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EV Charging Connectors, Modes and Protocols Reference (CCS, NACS, CHAdeMO, GB/T, Type 2)

An EV program touches several different charging standards, and suppliers often need a quick answer on which connector, mode or protocol a region uses. This table gathers the common ones in one place with plain notes.

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Standard or connector	Category	Main region	AC or DC	Notes
SAE J1772 (Type 1)	Connector	North America, Japan	AC	Single-phase AC connector. Level 2 power is commonly up to about 19.2 kW.
IEC 62196-2 Type 2	Connector	Europe and many other markets	AC	Supports single-phase and three-phase AC. Common on public AC posts in Europe.
IEC 62196-2 Type 3	Connector	Limited legacy use (parts of Europe)	AC	Older alternative with shutters, largely superseded by Type 2.
CCS1 (Combo 1)	Connector	North America	AC and DC	J1772 inlet extended with two DC pins. DC fast chargers are commonly in the 50 to 350 kW class.
CCS2 (Combo 2)	Connector	Europe and other Type 2 markets	AC and DC	Type 2 inlet extended with two DC pins for fast charging.
CHAdeMO	Connector	Japan, some other markets	DC	Separate DC inlet. Original chargers were about 50 kW, later revisions go higher.
GB/T 20234.2	Connector	China	AC	Chinese national AC connector standard.
GB/T 20234.3	Connector	China	DC	Chinese national DC fast charging connector standard.
NACS (SAE J3400)	Connector	North America	AC and DC	Single compact connector for AC and DC, standardised from the Tesla design. Adoption by other automakers is under way.
ChaoJi	Connector	China and Japan (joint development)	DC	Next generation DC connector developed to unify GB/T and CHAdeMO. Check current status.
IEC 61851-1 Mode 1	Charging mode	Global	AC	Plain household socket without a control pilot. Restricted or not permitted in many markets.
IEC 61851-1 Mode 2	Charging mode	Global	AC	Household socket with an in-cable control and protection device (portable EVSE).
IEC 61851-1 Mode 3	Charging mode	Global	AC	Dedicated EV supply equipment with control pilot signalling. Typical wallbox and public AC post.
IEC 61851-1 Mode 4	Charging mode	Global	DC	Off-board charger delivers DC to the vehicle. Used for DC fast charging.
ISO 15118	Protocol	Global	AC and DC	Vehicle to charger communication. Later parts define Plug and Charge authentication.
DIN SPEC 70121	Protocol	Europe	DC	Early DC communication specification used by many CCS chargers.
OCPP	Protocol	Global	AC and DC	Open Charge Point Protocol between the charge point and the back office or network operator.
IEC 62196-1	Standard	Global	AC and DC	General requirements for plugs, socket-outlets and vehicle connectors for conductive charging.

Power figures are typical ranges, not guarantees. Actual limits depend on the standard revision, cable, vehicle and charger. Confirm against the current standard and your customer drawing.

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How to use the table

Search by connector name, region or a term like DC. The Category column separates connectors, the four IEC 61851 charging modes, communication protocols and general standards. Filter to a region before a quote so the right inlet and cable are assumed. Export the result to Excel to attach to a requirements sheet or a design review, and add your own column for the customer's drawing number.

Connector, mode and protocol are three different things

A connector is the physical plug and inlet. A charging mode describes how much control and protection exists between the grid and the vehicle. A protocol is the digital conversation that negotiates power, authentication and billing. Mixing the three is the most common confusion in specifications. A CCS2 inlet, for example, can be used with Mode 3 AC charging and Mode 4 DC charging, and the vehicle and charger then talk using ISO 15118 or DIN SPEC 70121.

Connector: physical shape and pin layout
Mode: IEC 61851 control and protection level
Protocol: ISO 15118, DIN SPEC 70121 or OCPP

Regional differences that matter to suppliers

North America has used J1772 and CCS1 and is moving toward NACS (SAE J3400). Europe standardised on Type 2 and CCS2. China uses GB/T for both AC and DC. Japan has CHAdeMO. A global platform may need several inlet variants and harness options, so product variants and their bill of materials should be planned early. Adapters exist but add cost and potential connection issues.

Common mistakes

Do not quote a kilowatt figure as a fixed rating. The standard may allow it, but the vehicle, cable and charger decide what actually flows. Do not assume a standard revision without checking, because the connector status in a given market changes over time. Finally, keep the protocol requirement visible in the specification, since a connector that fits does not guarantee the charger and vehicle can communicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NACS the same as SAE J3400?

NACS is the commonly used name for the connector that was standardised as SAE J3400. The standard describes the connector and its use for both AC and DC charging. Check the current revision and each automaker's rollout schedule.

What is the difference between CCS1 and CCS2?

Both add two DC pins to an AC inlet. CCS1 builds on the J1772 Type 1 shape used in North America, while CCS2 builds on the Type 2 shape used in Europe. They are not physically interchangeable without an adapter.

What does Plug and Charge mean?

Plug and Charge is a feature in later parts of ISO 15118 where the vehicle authenticates itself to the charger using certificates, so the driver does not need a card or an app. Both the vehicle and the network must support it.

Does OCPP control the vehicle?

No. OCPP is between the charge point and the back office or network operator. It handles things like status, authorisation and transactions. The vehicle to charger conversation uses a different protocol such as ISO 15118.

If you manage EV variants, harness options and customer requirements across ERP and PLM, Netray can discuss how an on-prem assistant could answer these lookups from your own data.

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