NACS
North American Charging Standard
Tesla's charging plug, now the SAE J3400 standard. It carries AC and DC through one small port, and most automakers have committed to it in North America.
GrowingMost common US fast-charge plug
Does it matter to you?
You drive a Tesla or a NACS-port EV
Every North American Tesla, plus newer models such as the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5, the 2025 Kia EV6 and the 2026 Nissan Leaf. You plug straight into Superchargers and need an adapter at CCS1 stations. At J1772 stations you need one too, unless your car also has a J1772 inlet, as the Leaf does.
You drive a CCS1 car in the US or Canada
Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and others let you use V3 and V4 Superchargers with an adapter your automaker approves. Older V2 posts are Tesla-only.
You're driving outside North America
Europe uses CCS2 and China uses GB/T, Teslas included. Japan and South Korea have Tesla's NACS Superchargers, but CHAdeMO in Japan and CCS1 in Korea are the main public plugs.
- Carries
- AC and DC
- Through the same two pins
- Fastest post
- 500 kW
- V4 cabinet; Cybertruck at launch
- At home
- 11.5 kW
- Tesla Wall Connector, 48 A
- Voltage
- Up to 1,000 V
- DC, SAE J3400 (2024)
- Main market
- US and Canada
- Plus Tesla sites in Japan, Korea
One small port for AC and DC
NACS sends AC and DC through the same two power pins, so a NACS car needs only one inlet for home charging and fast charging. The plug has five pins in all, and Tesla says it is half the size of a CCS connector.
CCS1 also uses one inlet, but it adds two DC pins below a J1772 socket. CHAdeMO cars need two separate inlets, one for DC and one for AC.
| Car | AC | DC |
|---|---|---|
| NACS car | NACS (SAE J3400)AC + DC | |
| CCS1 car | CCS1AC + DC | |
| CHAdeMO car | Type 1 (J1772)AC | CHAdeMODC |
500 kW at V4 cabinet sites, 250 kW for a Model 3 or Y
Tesla's V4 Supercharger cabinet, first switched on in September 2025, can deliver 500 kW per post, but at launch only the Cybertruck could take it. V4 posts on older V3 cabinets give less. A Model 3, Y, S or X peaks at up to 250 kW. At home, Tesla's Wall Connector gives 11.5 kW.
Peak power through a NACS plug
| Row | Power |
|---|---|
| V4 post, V4 cabinet, Cybertruck only at launch, Sep 2025 | 500 kW |
| CCS1 and CCS2, Top CharIN class; faster posts exist | 350 kW |
| V3 Supercharger post, Also the peak for Model 3, Y, S, X | 250 kW |
| V2 Supercharger post, Shared by two stalls; Teslas only | 150 kW |
| Tesla Wall Connector, Home AC, 48 A at 240 V | 11.5 kW |
Where you'll find NACS
North America is home. Outside it, NACS mostly means Tesla's own Superchargers, and Japan and South Korea are where other automakers have announced plans to follow.
- Standard
- Mixed
- Tesla only
- Not used
| Region | 2026 | Heading toward |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Standard42,538 NACS fast-charge connectors, Sep 2026 | StandardOther networks out-built Tesla, Jan to Aug 2026 |
| Canada | StandardSuperchargers open to other brands since 2024 | StandardSame automaker switch as the US |
| Japan | Tesla only695 Supercharger stalls at 138 sites, Dec 2025 | MixedMazda and Stellantis EVs from 2027 |
| South Korea | Mixed1,100+ Tesla stalls; CCS1 is the main plug | MixedOther networks adding it; Stellantis in 2027 |
| Europe and China | Not usedTeslas there use CCS2 or GB/T | Not usedCCS2 and GB/T remain the standards |
Levels are Plughopper's reading of the figures shown, not an official classification.
NACS against the other DC standards
| Attribute | NACS (this page)Growing | CCS1Declining | CCS2Dominant | CHAdeMODeclining | GB/TDominant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC and DC through one inlet | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No, separate inlets |
| Top rated DC power | 500 kW (V4 cabinet) | 350 kW class; 400 kW posts listed | 350 kW class; 600 kW per car since 2026 | 400 kW (CHAdeMO 2.0 spec) | 800 kW (2023 revision) |
| Tesla Supercharger access | Plugs in directly | With an adapter, at V3 and V4 sites | In Europe, where Superchargers use CCS2 | No official access | In China, where Superchargers use GB/T |
| Main markets | US and Canada; Tesla sites in Japan, Korea | US, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan | EU, UK, Australia, India | Japan | China |
From Tesla's plug to a North American standard
Tesla used the connector alone from 2012, opened the design in November 2022 and called it NACS. Ford committed in May 2023, GM, Rivian, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan followed by July, and SAE published it as J3400 in 2024.
- 2012–2022
Tesla's own plug
Used only by Tesla, from the Model S and the first six Superchargers in California in September 2012.
- Nov 2022
Tesla opens the design
Tesla publishes the specification and renames the connector the North American Charging Standard.
- Jun 2023
SAE takes it on
After Ford and GM commit, SAE says it will standardize the plug as J3400.
- Feb 2024
Superchargers open to Ford
Ford owners in the US and Canada get access with an adapter. Rivian follows in March, GM in September.
- Sep 2024
J3400 published
SAE's Recommended Practice covers 1,000 V DC charging and adds thermal checks for adapters.
- 2025–2026
Native ports beyond Tesla
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, then the 2026 Nissan Leaf and Rivian R1. Some models still ship CCS1 with an adapter.
- May 2025
Mazda picks NACS for Japan
Its Japan-market EVs from 2027 get NACS. Stellantis adds Japan and South Korea from 2027, announced in November 2025.
- Sep 2026
42,538 US connectors
More than CCS1's 37,367. Tesla runs 89% of the NACS ones.
What catches people out
Older V2 posts are Tesla-only
Other brands can use V3 and V4 Superchargers, not the older V2 posts. Check the Tesla app for sites that accept your car, and set up payment there or in your automaker's app before the trip.
Use an adapter your automaker approves
A CCS1 car needs a DC adapter at any Supercharger without a built-in Magic Dock. GM says damage caused by a third-party adapter isn't covered by its warranty. If you buy one, look for UL 2252 certification.
Check which end goes where
Listings mix up adapter names. A CCS1 car at a Supercharger needs the Supercharger plug in and a CCS1 plug out. A Tesla at a CCS1 station needs the reverse, and a third kind for J1772 Level 2 stations.
A faster post won't beat your car
A 500 kW post can't push a car past its own limit, and some non-Teslas charge slower on Superchargers than elsewhere. Consumer Reports' Lucid Air was held to 49 kW on one, so adding 200 miles would take well over an hour.
The adapter you need depends on your car's port
A NACS car needs an adapter for J1772 Level 2 stations. A CCS1 car needs a different one for Superchargers, ideally one your automaker approves.
- Use public Level 2 chargersJ1772-to-NACS adapter, for a Tesla or NACS carView on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
- Use Superchargers with a CCS1 carNACS-to-CCS1 DC adapter, UL 2252 certifiedView on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
- Charge a NACS car at home240 V Level 2 wall unit with a NACS plugView on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Amazon links. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Questions
What is NACS?
The charging plug Tesla has used since 2012 and opened to other automakers in November 2022. SAE published it as the J3400 standard in 2024. It carries AC and DC through the same pins, so a NACS car needs only one charging port. Tesla's newest V4 cabinets deliver up to 500 kW per post.
Can a non-Tesla EV charge at a Supercharger?
In North America most brands can, at V3 and V4 sites. Cars with a NACS port plug straight in. CCS1 cars need an adapter their automaker approves, or a site with a built-in Magic Dock. Older V2 posts are Tesla-only. Check the Tesla app before you go.
Which countries use NACS?
The United States and Canada, where most automakers have committed to it. Tesla also runs NACS Superchargers in Japan and South Korea. Mazda plans NACS cars for Japan and Stellantis for Japan and South Korea, both from 2027. Europe uses CCS2 and China uses GB/T, Teslas included.