Guide
EV connector types explained: J1772, CCS, NACS, Type 2 and CHAdeMO
Which plug your car uses, which chargers it fits, and why North America and the rest of the world differ.
The connector decides which chargers you can use and how fast. The picture has simplified a lot, but there are still two worlds: North America with J1772, CCS1 and NACS, and everywhere else with Type 2 and CCS2. Here is what you will meet on the road.
North America
J1772: the Level 2 plug
The round five-pin plug on every non-Tesla EV sold in the US and Canada, and on every Level 2 public charger. It delivers 3 to 19 kW of AC power, most commonly 6 to 7 kW in public, and the cable is attached to the charger. Teslas use it with the small J1772 adapter that ships with the car.
CCS1: fast charging, first generation
The J1772 plug with two large DC pins underneath. It is what most non-Tesla EVs sold before 2025 use for DC fast charging, from 50 to 350 kW. Cables are always attached.
NACS: the Tesla plug that became the standard
The compact Tesla connector, now standardised as SAE J3400. Almost every automaker switched to it from 2025, and Tesla Superchargers are progressively open to other brands through the Tesla app. CCS1 cars use a NACS adapter at Superchargers, and NACS cars use a CCS1 adapter at older fast chargers. Expect both plugs on new fast-charging sites for the rest of the decade.
CHAdeMO
The older Japanese fast-charging standard, used by the Nissan Leaf and a few others. Still present on many older DC sites, disappearing from new ones. If you drive a CHAdeMO car, filter the map for it before you detour.
United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand
Type 2: the AC standard
The seven-pin plug on every EV and plug-in hybrid sold in these markets and on every AC post, from 3.7 kW single-phase up to 22 kW three-phase. Public posts almost always have a socket only: you carry your own cable, and a 32 A three-phase Type 2 cable is the single most useful thing to keep in the boot. Your car’s onboard charger sets the ceiling: many accept only 7 or 11 kW, so a 22 kW post is no faster for them.
CCS2: rapid and ultra-rapid
Type 2 with two DC pins added, from 50 to 350 kW and beyond. Cables are attached and often liquid-cooled. Every new EV in these markets has it, including Teslas built for them.
CHAdeMO
Same story as in North America: still alongside CCS2 on older rapid units, absent from new installations.
Summary table
| Connector | Current | Typical power | Cable | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J1772 | AC | 6-19 kW | Attached | US, Canada: Level 2 |
| CCS1 | DC | 50-350 kW | Attached | US, Canada: fast charging |
| NACS (J3400) | AC and DC | up to 250 kW+ | Attached | US, Canada: Tesla and new EVs |
| Type 2 | AC | 7-22 kW | Yours | UK, IE, AU, NZ: AC posts |
| CCS2 | DC | 50-350 kW | Attached | UK, IE, AU, NZ: rapid charging |
| CHAdeMO | DC | 50 kW | Attached | Older DC sites everywhere |
How to tell what your car has
Open the charge port. Five pins in a circle with nothing below is J1772 or Type 2 only, typical of plug-in hybrids. Two large round pins under a flap below the main plug means CCS. The small oval Tesla port is NACS. On the map you can filter by connector and by power so you only see chargers your car can actually use.