Plugs · 6 min read
Connectors and adapters: CCS, NACS, J1772, CHAdeMO
Which plug your car has and where it can charge.
Gas pumps all fit every car. EV plugs don't, at least not yet. North America is partway through a switch from one fast-charging plug to another, so the port on a used EV decides where it can charge and whether you need an adapter.
J1772
AC only · Level 1 & 2
The standard AC plug on every non-Tesla EV sold in North America. Most public Level 2 chargers have it.
CCS1
AC + DC fast
J1772 with two big DC pins below. The fast-charging plug on most non-Tesla EVs through the 2024 model year. Electrify America, EVgo and ChargePoint fast chargers use it.
NACS · SAE J3400
AC + DC fast in one small plug
Tesla's connector, now standardized. Most automakers are moving to it from 2025 on. Tesla Superchargers use it, and IONNA sites have both NACS and CCS cables.
CHAdeMO
DC fast only
Found on the Nissan Leaf through 2025 and a few older models. New stations rarely include it, so check a used Leaf against the map before a road trip.
Adapters
- NACS to CCS1 lets a CCS car plug into a Tesla Supercharger, but only if its automaker has a Supercharger access deal and the car is enabled. Each model page shows whether it is.
- CCS1 to NACS lets a NACS car (any Tesla, or a newer NACS-port model) use CCS fast chargers.
- J1772 to NACS is a simple AC adapter so NACS cars can use ordinary Level 2 stations. Teslas come with one.
Use the automaker's adapter or one it approves. Cheap fast-charging adapters without proper ratings or safety certification can overheat.
Plug & Charge
With Plug & Charge, the car identifies itself to the station and billing happens automatically: no app, no card. Teslas do it at Superchargers. Many other brands do it at Electrify America, and some do it at Superchargers too. The networks panel on each model page lists where it works.
Open the charger map and pick your car to grey out the stations it can't use.