The rapid shift toward electric mobility is transforming the way people think about vehicles, energy, and infrastructure. At the center of this transformation lies a critical component: the charging connector. For electric vehicles (EVs), the connector is more than just a plug — it is the gateway that determines charging speed, convenience, and compatibility. In North America, the SAE Combo Charger, officially called the Combined Charging System (CCS), has emerged as the most widely adopted fast-charging standard.
CCS is unique in its design. It integrates the SAE J1772 AC charging connector with two additional high-voltage pins for DC fast charging. This dual approach means that the same charging inlet on an EV can accept both everyday AC EV charging at home and high-powered DC EV charging on the road. It simplifies the driver experience, reduces infrastructure complexity, and allows automakers to standardize around a single versatile connector.
As more automakers transition to EV-only lineups, charging infrastructure becomes increasingly important. Understanding how CCS works, why it matters, and where it is headed provides insight into the broader story of how societies are building the backbone of a sustainable transportation future.
In the early days of EV adoption, charging standards were fragmented. Different automakers and regions promoted their own connector types, which sometimes left drivers frustrated with limited compatibility. Today, two major DC fast-charging standards dominate the conversation:
CHAdeMO – Developed in Japan, once the leader in fast charging.
SAE Combo / CCS – Developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers in collaboration with European partners, now the prevailing choice in North America and Europe.
These standards are not interchangeable. A CHAdeMO-equipped EV cannot accept a CCS plug and vice versa. Some EVs, like earlier Nissan Leafs, came with CHAdeMO, while most U.S. and European EVs today use CCS exclusively.
This non-interoperability is a challenge for consumers, but market forces are quickly tilting toward CCS. Charging networks like Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint have invested heavily in CCS infrastructure, with CHAdeMO connectors increasingly being phased out. For drivers, this means that purchasing a CCS-equipped EV ensures better access to charging locations across highways, cities, and suburban areas.
At a glance, the CCS connector looks like a standard J1772 plug with two extra pins attached to the bottom. But behind this simple design is a sophisticated system that manages high-power electricity safely and efficiently.
Upper Portion (SAE J1772): Handles AC charging at Level 1 (120V) or Level 2 (240V). This is the most common form of daily charging, whether at home, at work, or at public parking lots.
Lower Portion (Two DC Pins): Handles direct current fast charging, bypassing the vehicle’s onboard charger and delivering power straight into the battery at voltages up to 1000V.
Once the CCS connector is inserted, the car recognizes it via the Proximity Pilot (PP) and Control Pilot (CP) pins. These signals are part of the J1772 protocol and are essential for confirming a safe connection.
The EV and charging station establish communication, determining safe operating limits for voltage, current, and temperature. This ensures that neither the car’s battery nor the charger is overstressed.
For AC charging, the EV’s onboard charger converts alternating current into direct current for the battery.
For DC fast charging, the onboard charger is bypassed, and power flows directly into the battery via the two large DC pins.
Both systems continually monitor conditions such as heat, current, and battery charge level. Charging speeds are adjusted dynamically to maximize efficiency without risking damage.
Once charging is finished or the driver disconnects, the system powers down safely, ensuring no live current remains at the plug.
This blend of safety protocols, efficiency, and flexibility is what makes CCS such a trusted technology for EV manufacturers and charging networks alike.
The success of CCS is not merely due to technical superiority. Several strategic advantages propelled it to the forefront:
Unlike Tesla’s proprietary system in its early years, CCS was designed as an open standard. This allowed widespread adoption across brands like Ford, GM, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Kia.
Governments in North America and Europe have backed CCS through regulations and subsidies. In the EU, CCS is mandated for all new public fast-charging stations, ensuring consistency.
CCS supports charging speeds from as little as 3 kW for Level 1 AC all the way up to 350 kW for ultra-fast DC, making it suitable for everything from small commuter cars to long-range SUVs and trucks.
Drivers don’t have to worry about multiple ports. A single CCS inlet covers all charging scenarios, simplifying EV design and ownership.
In the 2010s, CHAdeMO was the global leader, largely because of early EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. But as the EV market matured, CHAdeMO’s limitations became clear:
Maximum charging speed typically capped at 62.5 kW, compared to CCS’s 350 kW+.
Lack of widespread automaker adoption outside of Japan.
Slower rollout of CHAdeMO-compatible charging infrastructure in Europe and North America.
By contrast, CCS was backed by Western automakers and aligned with EU regulatory requirements. Today:
North America: CCS dominates nearly all non-Tesla EVs.
Europe: CCS Type 2 is the mandated standard.
Japan: CHAdeMO remains common, but CCS is gaining ground.
The result is clear: CCS has become the global mainstream outside Japan and China.
The promise of EVs lies not just in reducing emissions but also in enabling convenience comparable to gasoline refueling. CCS is central to this goal.
Standard DC Fast Charging: Most CCS chargers today deliver 50–150 kW, adding 60–200 miles of range in 30–45 minutes.
Ultra-Fast Charging: Newer CCS chargers provide up to 350 kW, allowing compatible EVs to gain 200 miles of range in under 20 minutes.
This capability is especially critical for:
Long-Distance Travel: Highway corridors rely on CCS fast chargers to support road trips.
Commercial Fleets: Trucks, delivery vans, and buses need rapid turnaround times to stay operational.
Future-Proofing: As solid-state batteries emerge, capable of accepting much higher charge rates, CCS infrastructure is ready to meet demand.
While CCS is dominant, it is not without obstacles:
Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), known for its smaller, sleeker connector, is gaining traction. Several automakers — Ford, GM, Rivian, and Volvo — have announced plans to adopt NACS in future models. This has raised questions about whether CCS will eventually be replaced in North America.
Not all CCS stations are equal. Some may only offer 50 kW charging, frustrating drivers expecting faster speeds. Grid capacity also limits deployment in certain regions.
Although CCS simplifies AC/DC integration, the coexistence of CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla NACS, and China’s GB/T still confuses drivers traveling internationally.
The EV charging world is still fragmented:
Europe: CCS Type 2 is the official standard for all fast chargers.
North America: CCS remains dominant today but faces rising competition from NACS.
Japan: CHAdeMO is still prevalent but slowly losing ground.
China: Uses its own GB/T standard for both AC and DC charging, dominating the world’s largest EV market.
This diversity highlights the challenge of building a universal EV charging ecosystem. While CCS has brought significant unification to Europe and North America, global convergence is still a long-term goal.
Despite challenges, CCS is evolving to meet future needs:
Future iterations of CCS will likely support vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, where EVs can return power to the grid during peak demand.
CCS charging hubs may serve as energy balancing nodes, storing excess solar or wind energy in EVs during low-demand periods.
More ultra-fast CCS stations are being deployed worldwide, ensuring that charging times continue to shrink.
It is increasingly likely that CCS and NACS will coexist in North America, with adapters and dual-standard stations serving both.
The SAE Combo Charger (CCS) has become the backbone of EV charging infrastructure in North America and Europe. Its dual AC/DC design, scalability from slow charging to ultra-fast power delivery, and widespread automaker support make it one of the most important technologies in the EV era.
While challenges such as competition from Tesla’s NACS and regional fragmentation remain, CCS continues to evolve. With support from policymakers, automakers, and charging networks, it is positioned to remain a central player in the charging landscape for years to come.
As EV adoption accelerates worldwide, CCS stands as more than just a connector. It is a symbol of the industry’s commitment to interoperability, efficiency, and a cleaner, electrified future.
