CCS vs. Tesla’s NACS: Which One Is Better?

These are the two most popular fast charging standards in the US, and they both come with a series of advantages and disadvantages.

Most electric vehicles sold in North America are fast-charged using one of two most common DC plug standards: the Combined Charging System (CCS), which is what all non-Tesla EVs come with, and Tesla’s North America Charging Standard, which grants access to Tesla's proprietary network of Supercharger stations.

But what’s the difference between CCS and Tesla’s NACS? Does it make a difference what type of DC fast-charger connector you use on your electric vehicle? Well, let's dig deeper to find out!

The North American version of the Combined Charging System, otherwise known as CCS, is a type of plug standard that adds fast-charging pins to the SAE J1772 (Type 1) AC connector. It can deliver up to 350 kW of power, which is enough to charge most EV batteries to 80% in less than 20 minutes.

However, the CCS standard in North America is designed differently from the CCS connector in Europe. For North America, CCS connectors are designed around the Type 1 connector, while CCS plugs in Europe have Type 2 connectors popularly known as Mennekes. This is why the North American standard is known as CCS1, while the European version is referred to as CCS2.

Every non-Tesla EV in North America, except the Nissan Leaf, uses a built-in CCS connector to fast-charge the battery.

Tesla’s North America Charging Standard, also known as NACS, is a type of two-pin plug that supports both AC and DC fast charging. Unlike CCS, NACS is not an expanded version of a J1772 connector.

The maximum power output of Tesla’s NACS plug in North America is 250 kW. This is enough to add 200 miles of range in 15 minutes at a V3 Supercharger station.

Only Tesla vehicles come out of the factory with the NACS port. However, popular automakers such as Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Volvo, and Rivian will start selling NACS-equipped EVs in 2025.

Both connectors are capable of fast-charging your EV battery to 80% in less than 30 minutes. But to figure out which EV charging plug standard is better, we have to consider additional evaluation criteria.

Tesla's NACS plugs are smaller, lighter, and more compact than CCS plugs. The NACS connector is also designed to look like a funnel to make plugging in easier. Another cool thing about the Tesla connector is that it comes with a button on the handle that opens the charging port latch.

Plugging in a CCS connector requires more effort, especially during the winter. This is because most CCS connectors feature long, thick, and heavy cables, which may make plugging in difficult for some EV owners.

Because the CCS standard doesn’t specify where the charge port should be located in an EV, the cables have to be longer. This makes them compatible with EVs from most brands, regardless of charging port location.

In contrast, all Tesla vehicles except the Roadster have the NACS ports in the left rear tail light. This is why NACS cables can be much shorter and thinner with fewer maintenance requirements than CCS plug cables.

The Tesla Supercharger network is widely considered to be more reliable than other EV charging networks, regardless of whether you’re using a NACS or a CCS connector. There are no other EV charging network operators that can match Tesla's for ease of use and dependability.

On top of that, Tesla has the biggest fast-charging network in North America, which means you will come across more EV chargers with NACS connectors than CCS plugs.

Technically, the CCS plug standard can deliver more power to the battery than Tesla’s NACS connector. However, just because the CCS connector can draw up to 350 kW, it doesn’t mean your EV will ever charge at that rate. In other words, the charging speed of your EV is limited by its maximum charging input power.

For instance, the Lucid Air is one of the fastest-charging EVs, but its maximum charging input power is capped at 297 kW. In addition to that, Tesla’s NACS plug is limited to a maximum of 500 volts, but CCS connectors deliver up to 1,000 volts.

Here are the technical differences between Tesla's NACS and CCS connectors:

Both CCS and NACS connectors are capable of fast-charging your EV from 0% to 80% in less than 30 minutes. However, Tesla’s minimalist NACS plug standard is slightly better designed than the North American CCS1 connector.

Tesla EVs with NACS ports also have the advantage of having access to a more reliable charging network. But charging with CCS isn't too bad either. They can deliver higher current and voltage than NACS plugs, although it could change in the future with the introduction of V4 Superchargers.

What’s more, if you want to own an electric car with bidirectional charging technology, you’re limited to options with CCS connectors. The only exception is the Nissan Leaf, which can only be plugged into a CHAdeMO connector. Tesla is also planning to add bidirectional charging capability to its vehicles by 2025.

As EV adoption accelerates, the market will likely consolidate and pick a universal EV charging standard. If it has been done in Europe and China, hopefully North America will follow the trend.

For now, our bet is on Tesla’s NACS to emerge on top, considering it will be backed up by major automakers and is already more popular than CCS in the US, where Superchargers are the most common type of fast charger.

James is a professional automotive writer who has worked for most well-known automotive websites. His articles have been published on websites such as The Drive, Hot Cars, Smart Trucking, Car Repair Lab, RV Talk, Drifted, Green Authority, 180SX Club, Inspired Cyclist, Low Offset, and SlashGear. Besides his experience as a writer, editor, and consultant when it comes to the automotive industry, James also covers consumer technology.