What does NACS (North American Charging Standard) mean?

Explanation

NACS, originally known as the Tesla connector, is the charging plug Tesla developed for its vehicles and Supercharger network. In North America, it has been adopted as the official charging standard (SAE J3400) after most major automakers agreed to switch to it starting in 2025. In Europe, Tesla vehicles use CCS2, not NACS.

The NACS connector is smaller and lighter than CCS2. It handles both AC and DC through the same compact plug, which drivers generally prefer for its ease of use. Tesla's Supercharger network has been the largest fast charging network in North America, and opening it to NACS-equipped non-Tesla vehicles is a significant shift.

If you drive in Europe, NACS is not something you need to worry about. All Tesla vehicles sold in Europe use the CCS2 standard and charge at any CCS2 fast charger. NACS is primarily relevant for North American EV drivers and for understanding global charging standard discussions.

For detailed documentation, see CharIN e.V.

Where you'll see this

• On the charger screen
• In charging network apps
• In vehicle specifications

Common confusion

European Tesla owners sometimes wonder if they need a NACS adapter. They do not. European Teslas come with CCS2 ports and charge at any European CCS2 or Type 2 charger without adapters.

Example

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