Two groups of stations offer a NACS connector today: Tesla’s own charging stations, which were built with it, and a growing number of other DC fast-charging sites that have added a NACS cable alongside their CCS1 cable. There is no single official list, and the mix changes month by month. The reliable move is to check the connector listed for the exact station before you travel — this guide shows how.
Key Takeaways
- Tesla’s stations use NACS natively; other fast-charging sites are adding NACS cables alongside CCS1.
- There is no complete official list — check the connector field for the exact station.
- NEVI-funded DC ports must include CCS1, so NACS there is always an extra.
- Adapters are direction-specific and need car-maker approval for DC use.
Where NACS Connectors Are Found
NACS — now standardised as SAE J3400 — started as the connector on Tesla cars and Tesla’s charging network, as our explainer on whether the Tesla charger is NACS sets out. Since car makers began adopting the port, other fast-charging sites have started fitting NACS cables next to CCS1 ones, a shift tracked in our coverage of NACS overtaking CCS1 in US DC fast charging. One fixed point: federally funded NEVI corridor stations must provide CCS1 on their DC ports, so at those sites a NACS cable is an addition, never the only option.
| Station type | NACS connector? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla charging station | Standard fit | Whether your car brand has access, and whether it needs an approved adapter |
| Other DC fast-charging site | At some sites, as an added cable | The connector field in the station listing; two cables on the cabinet |
| NEVI-funded corridor station | CCS1 guaranteed; NACS possible as an extra | The listing for that exact station, not the corridor |
| Public Level 2 post | Either NACS or J1772, by site | The listing, or the connector shown in site photos |
How to Check a Station Before You Go
- Filter the Station Locator by connector. The U.S. DOE AFDC Station Locator lets you filter public stations by connector type, including NACS. A station that appears under the NACS filter lists the connector in its record.
- Read the station, not the network. Networks run mixed sites. The same brand can have CCS1-only stations on one road and dual-cable stations on another.
- Check your car maker’s guidance. Access to Tesla’s stations and adapter approval are set brand by brand. Your maker’s app or support pages state which stations and adapters apply to your car.
- Look at the cabinet on arrival. A NACS cable is the smaller, single-piece connector; dual-cable cabinets carry it next to the larger CCS1 handle. The shapes are compared in Type 2 vs J1772 vs NACS.
The Adapter Bridge, in the Other Direction
Most adapter talk runs the other way: a NACS car at a CCS1 station. That is the job of the EVDANCE JT08 NACS-to-CCS1 DC adapter (up to 500 A / 1000 V, IP66, only where the automaker approves) and the EVDANCE JT09 adapter with handle (up to 500 A, IP66). Adapters are direction-specific: a part built for one direction does not work in reverse, and DC adapters should only be used where the car maker approves them. Charging a car with the other port shape at home is covered in charging a Tesla: Type 2 in Europe, NACS in North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a CCS1 car plug into a NACS-only station?
Not directly — the connectors are different shapes. It works only with an adapter your car maker approves for DC fast charging. Many stations still offer a CCS1 cable, so check the listing before relying on an adapter.
Are all Tesla stations open to other brands?
No. Access depends on the station and on agreements with each car brand, and some cars need an approved adapter even where access exists. Your car maker’s guidance is the deciding source.
Will NACS replace CCS1 at public stations?
Not at funded corridor stations: NEVI rules require CCS1 on DC ports there. Elsewhere, the pattern so far is addition — sites fitting a NACS cable next to CCS1, rather than removing CCS1.
Related Reading
- Is the Tesla Charger NACS? NACS, J3400 and Adapters Explained
- Type 2 vs J1772 vs NACS: Which EV Charger Connector Does Your Market Need?
- EV Charging News: NACS Overtakes CCS1 in U.S. DC Fast Charging Connectors
- Charging a Tesla: Type 2 in Europe, NACS in North America
