CCS2 vs. NACS
Comparing 2 standards across 12 specifications. 12 key differences identified.
CCS Combo 2 (standardized under IEC 62196-3 and mandated across the European Union) combines the upper 7-pin Type 2 Mennekes inlet with two heavy DC power pins below. Supporting up to 350 kW to 500 kW DC fast-charging (500A @ 1000V DC) alongside native 3-phase AC charging, it is the dominant global fast-charging standard outside North America.
SAE J3400 (originally designed by Tesla as the proprietary Tesla Connector and published in 2023 by SAE International as the North American Charging Standard / NACS) is an ultra-compact unified connector utilizing two primary conductors for both single-phase AC charging (up to 48A / 11.5 kW) and high-power DC fast charging (up to 1000V / 500A+ / 350+ kW). Adopted by virtually all major automakers across North America.
Specification Comparison Table
12 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standardization
|
IEC 62196-3 / ISO 15118 / DIN 70121 | SAE J3400 / North American Charging Standard (NACS) |
|
Maximum DC Charging Rate
|
Up to 500 A continuous at 1000 V DC (350 kW standard, up to 500 kW in high-power megawatt systems) | 1000 V DC, 500 A+ continuous (liquid-cooled V4 Superchargers capable of 350 kW to 600 kW+) |
|
Connector Architecture
|
Combo inlet: Upper Type 2 socket + Lower 2-pin DC power bus (DC+ / DC-) | — |
|
AC Charging Support
|
Native 3-phase AC up to 22 kW / 43.5 kW when connecting standard Type 2 AC cables | — |
|
Vehicle Mechanical Interlock
|
Electromechanical locking pin in car inlet holds heavy liquid-cooled DC cable securely against terminal strain | — |
|
Global Mandate
|
Mandatory standard across the EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, and Latin America | — |
|
Tesla European Fleet
|
All Tesla Model 3, Y, S, and X sold in Europe feature native CCS Combo 2 inlets (and Superchargers feature dual CCS2 cables) | — |
|
Pin Count & Configuration
|
— | 5 pins: 2 dual-purpose power conductors (L1/DC+ and L2/DC-), 1 Ground (GND), 1 Control Pilot (CP), 1 Digital Communication pin |
|
Form Factor Size
|
— | Approx. 50% the physical volume and weight of bulky CCS Combo 1 handles |
|
Maximum AC Charging Rate
|
— | 240 V / 48 A single-phase AC (11.5 kW home wall connector) or 277 V commercial AC (13.3 kW) |
|
Solid-State Multiplexing
|
— | Vehicle internal high-voltage contactors dynamically switch the dual pins between the onboard AC charger and the direct DC battery pack |
|
Industry Adoption
|
— | Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Honda, Volvo/Polestar, VW Group (native ports 2025+) |