The Combined Charging System (CCS) is the dominant DC fast charging standard for non-Tesla EVs in North America, Europe, and Australia. But CCS is not a single connector — it comes in two regional variants: CCS1 (used in North America and parts of Asia) and CCS2 (used in Europe, Australia, and most of the rest of the world).
Understanding the difference between CCS1 and CCS2 is essential for EV owners traveling internationally, charging infrastructure developers, and connector manufacturers supplying the global EV market.
What Is CCS?
The Combined Charging System was developed by a consortium of European and American automakers (BMW, Daimler, Ford, GM, Volkswagen, and others) through the CharIN organization. The core concept: combine AC and DC charging into a single vehicle inlet, so one connector handles both Level 2 AC charging and DC fast charging.
CCS achieves this by adding two large DC pins below an existing AC connector:
- CCS1: DC pins added below a Type 1 (SAE J1772) AC connector
- CCS2: DC pins added below a Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) AC connector
The DC pins are identical in both variants. The difference is entirely in the AC connector base.
CCS1: North America and Japan
CCS1 (Combo 1) uses the SAE J1772 connector as its AC base. J1772 is the standard AC charging connector in North America and Japan, so CCS1 is the natural extension for DC fast charging in these markets.
CCS1 Physical Characteristics
- Total pins: 7 (5 from J1772 + 2 DC pins)
- AC connector base: SAE J1772 (Type 1)
- AC phases: Single-phase only
- DC pins: 2 large pins below the J1772 portion
- Locking: Mechanical latch
CCS1 Electrical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| AC voltage | 120V or 240V (single-phase) |
| AC max current | 80A |
| AC max power | 19.2 kW |
| DC voltage | Up to 1,000V |
| DC max current | 500A |
| DC max power | 350 kW (current infrastructure) |
| Communication | PLC (ISO 15118) |
CCS1 Regional Adoption
CCS1 is the standard in:
- United States (all non-Tesla EVs from ~2013 onward)
- Canada
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Japan (alongside CHAdeMO)
In the US, CCS1 has been the dominant DC fast charging standard for non-Tesla vehicles. However, with the industry transition to NACS (SAE J3400), new vehicles from 2025 onward will use NACS inlets instead of CCS1.
CCS2: Europe, Australia, and Global Markets
CCS2 (Combo 2) uses the IEC 62196-2 Type 2 connector as its AC base. Type 2 is the standard AC charging connector in Europe and Australia, supporting both single-phase and three-phase AC charging.
CCS2 Physical Characteristics
- Total pins: 7 (5 from Type 2 + 2 DC pins)
- AC connector base: IEC 62196-2 Type 2
- AC phases: Single-phase and three-phase
- DC pins: 2 large pins below the Type 2 portion
- Locking: Mechanical latch
CCS2 Electrical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| AC voltage | 230V (single-phase) or 400V (three-phase) |
| AC max current | 63A (single-phase), 63A per phase (three-phase) |
| AC max power | 43 kW (three-phase, 63A) |
| DC voltage | Up to 1,000V |
| DC max current | 500A |
| DC max power | 350 kW (current infrastructure) |
| Communication | PLC (ISO 15118) |
The key advantage of CCS2 over CCS1 is three-phase AC charging. European and Australian electrical grids support three-phase power in residential and commercial buildings, enabling AC charging at up to 43 kW — significantly faster than CCS1's maximum of 19.2 kW for AC charging.
CCS2 Regional Adoption
CCS2 is the standard in:
- European Union (mandated by EU regulations)
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Middle East
- South America (most countries)
- India (alongside GB/T)
- South Africa
CCS2 is effectively the global standard outside North America, Japan, and China.
CCS1 vs CCS2: Direct Comparison
| Parameter | CCS1 | CCS2 |
|---|---|---|
| AC base connector | SAE J1772 (Type 1) | IEC 62196-2 (Type 2) |
| AC phases | Single-phase | Single and three-phase |
| Max AC power | 19.2 kW | 43 kW |
| DC pins | Identical | Identical |
| Max DC power | 350 kW | 350 kW |
| DC voltage | Up to 1,000V | Up to 1,000V |
| Communication | ISO 15118 (PLC) | ISO 15118 (PLC) |
| Primary regions | North America, South Korea | Europe, Australia, global |
| Interchangeable? | No | No |
The DC portions of CCS1 and CCS2 are electrically identical — same voltage, current, and communication protocol. The difference is purely in the AC connector base, which reflects the regional AC charging standards.
Are CCS1 and CCS2 Compatible?
No. CCS1 and CCS2 connectors are not physically interchangeable. A CCS1 charging cable cannot plug into a CCS2 vehicle inlet, and vice versa. The AC connector bases (J1772 vs Type 2) have different shapes and pin configurations.
For EV owners traveling between regions:
- A CCS1 vehicle in Europe cannot use CCS2 charging stations without an adapter
- A CCS2 vehicle in North America cannot use CCS1 charging stations without an adapter
CCS1-to-CCS2 adapters exist but are not widely available and may not be approved by all charging networks. The practical solution for international EV travel is to rent a local vehicle or use a vehicle with a universal adapter.
The NACS Factor
The transition to NACS (SAE J3400) in North America is making CCS1 increasingly obsolete for new vehicles. From 2025 onward, most new EVs sold in North America will have NACS inlets rather than CCS1.
However, CCS2 is not affected by the NACS transition. Europe and Australia continue to invest in CCS2 infrastructure, and there is no equivalent shift to NACS in these markets. CCS2 will remain the dominant DC fast charging standard in Europe and Australia for the foreseeable future.
Charging Infrastructure Implications
For charging station operators:
North America: New installations should include both NACS and CCS1 connectors to serve the mixed fleet during the transition period. CCS1-only stations will become less relevant as the NACS fleet grows.
Europe/Australia: CCS2 is the standard. New installations should use CCS2 connectors. Some stations also include CHAdeMO for legacy Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi vehicles.
Global/Multi-region: Charging stations serving international travelers (airports, border crossings) may need both CCS1 and CCS2 connectors.
CZT's EV charging connector range includes CCS1, CCS2, and NACS connectors for charging station and vehicle-side applications, with full compliance to IEC 62196 and SAE standards.
Summary
CCS1 and CCS2 are regional variants of the same Combined Charging System standard:
- CCS1: J1772 AC base, single-phase AC, North America and South Korea
- CCS2: Type 2 AC base, single and three-phase AC, Europe and Australia
- DC performance: Identical in both variants (up to 350 kW)
- Not interchangeable: Different physical connectors, no direct compatibility
- Future: CCS1 being replaced by NACS in North America; CCS2 remains the European/Australian standard
