EV charging connector types
The plugs that charge an electric car in North America — what each one does, how fast it charges, and which vehicles use it.
US EV connectors compared
| Connector | Charging | Max power | Used by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J1772SAE J1772, “Type 1” | AC (Level 1 & 2) | Up to 19.2 kW (commonly 7–11 kW at home) | AC charging on every non-Tesla EV; Tesla via adapter | Universal AC standard (US & Canada) |
| CCS1Combined Charging System, “Combo 1” | DC fast (+ J1772 AC) | Up to 350 kW | DC fast charging on most 2017–2024 non-Tesla EVs | Current DC standard, transitioning to NACS |
| NACSSAE J3400, Tesla connector | AC + DC (one connector) | Up to 250+ kW (DC) | Tesla; Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai and most automakers (2025+) | Emerging North American standard |
| CHAdeMOCHAdeMO | DC fast | Commonly up to ~62.5 kW | Older Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | Legacy — phasing out in North America |
How the pieces fit together
- AC vs DC. J1772 handles AC (home and Level 2). CCS1 adds two DC pins below a J1772 plug for fast charging. NACS does both AC and DC in one smaller connector.
- NACS is becoming the standard. Tesla's connector was standardized as SAE J3400 and most automakers are moving to it. Adapters bridge the gap — a CCS car can use many NACS chargers, and Tesla drivers have long used a J1772 adapter for AC.
- The actual charging speed depends on the car and station, not just the connector — a 350 kW CCS plug still charges at the car's limit.
- Not used in the US: Type 2 (Mennekes) (Europe — AC charging), CCS2 (Europe — DC fast charging), GB/T (China — AC and DC).