J1772 vs CCS:Simple Guide for EV Owners

The most common electric vehicle charging standards in North America are J1772 and CCS, which have significant differences in functionality and compatibility. This guide will delve into the differences between these two electric vehicle charging interface standards, helping EV owners make informed choices based on their charging needs.

1. What is the J1772 standard?

The SAE J1772 charging standard, also known as the J1772 AC charging standard, is the mainstream EV AC charging interface standard in North America, developed by SAE International. It supports Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging. 

It uses a built-in five-pin design for power, communication, and safety, and has become the most reliable and widely adopted standard for AC charging of BEVs(Battery Electric Vehicles) and PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) in North America.

2. What is the CCS standard?

The Combined Charging System (CCS), also known as CCS Combo, is a popular fast-charging standard for electric vehicles. Its core feature is the addition of two DC pins to the J1772 connector, enabling a unified physical and communication standard for both AC slow charging and DC fast charging. 

CCS1 and CCS2 are the two main versions of the Combined Charging System (CCS) for electric vehicles. CCS1 is primarily intended for the North American market, while CCS2 is widely used in Europe and other regions.

3. Main features of J1772

• Physical structure: The J1772 connector contains five pins: two for power supply, one for grounding, and two for signal transmission between the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment).
• Core compatibility: 120V/240V single-phase AC power, corresponding to North American Level 1 and Level 2 charging, fully meeting the slow charging needs of homes, supermarkets, and office buildings.
• Safety features: The plug has a built-in mechanical lock that automatically locks after insertion, preventing accidental disconnection during charging and improving safety for outdoor charging.
• Compatibility: Powerful and compatible with almost all North American charging stations. Most electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles in North America support the J1772 standard.

4. Main Features of CCS

• Physical Structure: Based on J1772’s 5 AC pins, CCS1 adds two high-voltage DC pins (DC+/DC-) with larger cross-sectional area to carry high current for fast charging.
• Core Adaptation:In AC mode, CCS1 (North America) supports single-phase power up to 19.2kW, while CCS2 (Europe) supports three-phase power up to 43kW, both suitable for slow charging scenarios in homes and supermarkets. In DC mode, the conventional fast charging power can reach 550kW, suitable for ultra-fast charging scenarios such as highway service areas and heavy-duty truck charging stations.
• Safety Features: The plug has a built-in mechanical lock that automatically locks during charging to prevent accidental disconnection.
• Dual Version Regional Adaptation: CCS1 is mainly for North America and supports single-phase AC power connection; while CCS2 follows European standards and supports three-phase AC power connection.
• Compatibility: Compatibility between CCS and other charging standards such as NACS requires a dedicated adapter and only supports specific charging modes.

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of J1772 and CCS

5.1 J1772 Advantages:

• Safe and reliable, suitable for civilian slow charging scenarios

The grounding pin is longer than other pins, ensuring “grounding first, then power on; power off first, then disconnect from ground,” eliminating the risk of electric shock during plugging and unplugging. Fully meets the Level 1/2 slow charging needs of homes and supermarkets.

• Simple structure and low cost

Only a 5-pin design, without high-voltage DC pins, resulting in low maintenance costs; easy to modify existing civilian charging stations, suitable for large-scale popularization.

• Strong compatibility, the mainstream standard in the North American market

Almost all vehicle models in North America support the J1772 standard.

5.2 J1772 Disadvantages:

• Slow charging speed

Only capable of slow charging; fast charging requires the addition of DC pins using the CCS1 standard, making it unsuitable for fast charging scenarios such as highway service areas.

• Strong regional limitations

Designed only for the North American market, completely incompatible with European Type 2 and Chinese GB/T standards; requires an additional adapter for cross-regional use.

5.3 CCS Advantages:

• Integrated AC and DC charging

Supports both AC slow charging and DC fast charging: Reuses the AC pins of J1772/Type 2 for slow charging and adds dedicated DC pins for fast charging.

• Suitable for all scenarios

Home 240V slow charging (19.2kW) + high-speed 350kW ultra-fast charging, meeting both home slow charging needs and commercial vehicle ultra-fast charging requirements.

• Flexible regional adaptation

CCS1 matches the North American single-phase power grid, and CCS2 matches the European three-phase power grid.  These two versions are rooted in mainstream markets, covering most developed countries worldwide.

5.4 CCS Disadvantages:

• Complex structure and higher cost

Compared to J1772 and NACS, the addition of DC pins results in a larger plug size and more complex manufacturing process; charging stations need to support both AC and DC control logic, resulting in higher hardware and software costs than single-standard systems.

• Incompatibility between different versions

The physical interfaces and pin layouts of CCS1 and CCS2 are different and cannot be directly interconnected; dedicated conversion equipment is required for cross-regional use, reducing convenience.

6.Main differences between J1772 and CCS

The following table shows the differences between J1772 and CCS, providing a clear overview.

7. Future Development Trends

With the rapid development of the electric vehicle market, charging standards are constantly evolving. Although J1772 still holds an unassailable position in the North American market, the NACS connector is more compact, has higher power density, and features a simplified design that integrates both AC and DC charging.  As North American automakers gradually shift to the more compact NACS standard, the market share of J1772 as an independent standard will gradually shrink, only maintaining compatibility through CCS1.

For electric vehicle owners, the choice of charging connector depends on the vehicle’s onboard charger, driving habits, and the coverage of the charging network. Whether you are equipping a private garage with a charging station or installing commercial electric vehicle charging stations for your business, Zencar can provide the necessary tools to meet your various needs.Contact Zencar now to learn more.

8. FAQ

8.1 Which car models use CCS chargers?

BMW i4/i5/i7

Audi Q4 e-tron

Volkswagen ID.3/4/5

Hyundai Ioniq 5/6

Kia EV6/EV9

Porsche Taycan

Mercedes-Benz EQA/EQB

8.2 Which car models use J1772 chargers?

Chevrolet Bolt EV/EUV

Hyundai Ioniq 5/6

Kia EV6/EV9

Volkswagen ID.4 (North American version)

Mercedes-Benz EQE/EQS SUV

BMW X5 PHEV

Nissan Leaf

8.3 Can I charge a J1772 vehicle with a CCS charger?

Yes, but with version and mode restrictions:

A CCS1 charger can not charge J1772 vehicles directly, because CCS1 charger can not plug into J1772 socket.

A CCS2 charger (European standard) is physically incompatible with J1772; a J1772-to-Type 2 adapter is required, and only AC slow charging is available.

8.4 Are CCS chargers widely available at public charging stations?

CCS chargers have very high coverage in Europe, medium-high coverage in North America but are switching to NACS, and low coverage in other parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

8.5 Can a J1772 plug be inserted into a CCS charger?

A J1772 plug can be directly inserted into a CCS1 charger socket (without an adapter), but only allows AC slow charging; a J1772 plug cannot be directly inserted into a CCS2 charger socket and requires an adapter.

8.6 Can J1772 vehicles use NACS cars?

J1772 vehicles cannot directly use NACS cars; they can only charge at NACS destination chargers, home wall chargers, and other AC slow charging devices through a NACS-to-J1772 adapter.

8.7 Is J1772 AC or DC?

J1772 is an electric vehicle charging interface standard specifically for AC charging, supporting Level 1 (120V) and Level 2 (240V) AC power.

8.8 Which is faster, CCS or J1772?

CCS charging is significantly faster than J1772, primarily because the two standards support vastly different charging modes and power limits.

8.9 Does J1772 support fast charging?

J1772 itself does not support fast charging; it is a standard designed specifically for single-phase AC slow charging.

8.10 Is J1772 being phased out?

J1772 will not be “phased out,” but rather will enter a long-term coexistence and smooth transition phase—it will continue to maintain a high usage rate in slow charging scenarios such as at home and at destinations.