CCS1 and CCS2 are the same idea built on two different AC plugs. Both take a familiar AC inlet and add two large DC pins beneath it for fast charging. CCS1 is built on the North American Type 1 (J1772) inlet; CCS2 on the European Type 2 inlet, used across Europe and most Type 2 markets. The concept and the communication are shared — the shape, and therefore where each one works, is not.
Key Takeaways
- CCS1 and CCS2 are one system on two foundations: Type 1 (J1772) in North America, Type 2 in Europe and Type 2 markets.
- Both combine AC charging and two added DC pins in a single inlet on the car.
- The plugs are different shapes and are not interchangeable, with no simple adapter between them.
- Neither is faster; charging speed depends on the charger and the car, not on which CCS you have.
One Idea, Two Foundations
CCS stands for Combined Charging System, and “combined” is the point. Instead of giving the car separate ports for AC and DC, a CCS inlet combines them: the upper part is the standard AC connector for home and destination charging, and the two extra pins below carry DC power straight to the battery on a fast charger. One port on the car covers both kinds of charging. Our explainer on whether J1772 works with CCS shows how the North American version fits together.
The split happened because the AC plugs were already different: North America had standardised on Type 1, defined by SAE J1772, and Europe on Type 2. Each region extended the plug it already had, so the DC half of the system comes in two shapes.
CCS1 and CCS2, Side by Side
| CCS1 (Combo 1) | CCS2 (Combo 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Built on | Type 1 (SAE J1772) AC inlet | Type 2 (IEC) AC inlet |
| Where you meet it | North America | Europe, the UK, Australia and most Type 2 markets |
| AC charging through the same port | Single-phase, via the Type 1 top section | Single- or three-phase, via the Type 2 top section |
| DC fast charging | Through the two added pins below the AC section | Through the two added pins below the AC section |
| Official backing | Required on DC ports at US NEVI-funded corridor stations | The standard DC connector across European markets |
Under the plugs, the two systems are close relatives: both use the same family of digital communication between car and charger, which is why a CCS session starts and bills the same way on either continent. Our comparison of Type 2, J1772 and NACS connectors covers the AC plugs the two systems are built on.
Why You Cannot Mix Them
- The inlets are physically different shapes. A CCS2 connector does not fit a CCS1 car, and the other way round — by design, so the wrong plug cannot be forced.
- There is no simple adapter between them. Unlike the AC adapters sold for the North American transition to NACS, CCS1 and CCS2 are not bridged by a consumer accessory. Fast chargers are tethered with the plug of their region, and that is the plug you use.
- It only matters if a car crosses regions. A car sold in Europe fast-charges on CCS2 at home and would need specialist advice to fast-charge in North America. If you are importing a car, ask the manufacturer or a dealer what DC charging it supports in your market before you buy.
Equipment on Each Side of the Split
Charging hardware follows the same divide. In North America, the JT08 NACS-to-CCS1 DC adapter (up to 500 A / 1000 V, IP66) lets approved CCS1 cars use NACS DC chargers, only where the automaker approves it. In Type 2 markets, site operators install equipment such as the EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station with two Type 2 connectors. Match the connector to the cars in your market first; the rest of the specification comes second.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CCS2 faster than CCS1?
No. Neither connector is faster. Speed is set by the charger and the car: the U.S. DOT puts DC fast charging at 50–350 kW, and a session runs at whatever the charger offers and the car accepts.
Can I use an adapter to charge a CCS1 car on a CCS2 charger?
There is no simple adapter for this. The two inlets are different shapes with no consumer bridge between them, so a car fast-charges on the CCS version of the region it was built for.
Is CCS the same thing as “Combo”?
Yes. Combo 1 is another name for CCS1 and Combo 2 for CCS2 — both are the Combined Charging System, built on the Type 1 and Type 2 AC connectors respectively.
Related Reading
- Does J1772 Work With CCS? CCS Connectors Explained
- Type 2 vs J1772 vs NACS: Which EV Charger Connector Does Your Market Need?
- Is the Tesla Charger NACS? NACS, J3400 and Adapters Explained
- Are EV Chargers Universal?
Sources & Standards
For buyers: EVDANCE is a DC fast charger manufacturer in Shenzhen — our 22 kW commercial DC charger, with samples before bulk orders.
