North American Charging System
|
NACS alternating current (AC)/direct current (DC) connector (center), shown between SAE J1772 (left) and Type 2 (right) AC connectors. Non-NACS DC connectors are even larger. | |||
| Type | Electric vehicle charging | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Production history | |||
| Designer | Tesla, Inc. | ||
| Designed | 2012 | ||
| Standardized | 2024 | ||
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Volex | ||
| General specifications | |||
| Pins | 5 | ||
| Electrical | |||
| Signal | AC or DC | ||
| Max. voltage | |||
| Pinout | |||
| Pinouts for NACS, looking at end of plug (attached to electric vehicle supply equipment cord) | |||
| DC+/L1 | DC+ / Line 1 |
Positive current (DC), Line 1 (split phase AC), Line (single phase AC) | |
| DC−/L2 | DC− / Line 2 |
Negative current (DC), Line 2 (split phase AC), Neutral (single phase AC) | |
| G | Ground | full-current protective grounding system | |
| CP | Control pilot | charging state/current signaling | |
| PP | Proximity pilot | vehicle connector status signaling | |
| References: | |||
The North American Charging System (NACS), standardized as SAE J3400, is an electric vehicle (EV) charging connector standard developed by Tesla, Inc. and maintained by SAE International. Tesla introduced the physical connector design with the Model S in 2012; however, it was not until 2021 that Tesla vehicles began supporting the communications protocol that is specified as part of NACS. In 2022, Tesla opened the standard to other manufacturers, and SAE International formally standardized it in 2023. NACS uses a single compact connector for both AC and DC charging, sharing common pins for both modes, unlike other systems that require different or larger connectors for DC fast charging.
Between May 2023 and February 2024, most major automakers announced plans to adopt NACS for their North American EVs beginning with the 2025 model year, replacing the Combined Charging System Combo 1 connector (CCS1). Access to the Tesla Supercharger network, regarded as more reliable and extensive than other networks, was cited as a major factor in the transition. Several EV charging network operators and charging equipment manufacturers also announced plans to adopt NACS connectors.