NACS
EV Charging · 7 specs
Direct Answer
SAE J3400 (originally designed by Tesla as the proprietary Tesla Connector and published in 2023 by SAE International as the North American Charging Standard / NACS) is an ultra-compact unified connector utilizing two primary conductors for both single-phase AC charging (up to 48A / 11.5 kW) and high-power DC fast charging (up to 1000V / 500A+ / 350+ kW). Adopted by virtually all major automakers across North America.
Source: SAE International Technical Standard J3400_202312 / Tesla NACS Technical Specification · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Standardization | SAE J3400 / North American Charging Standard (NACS) |
| Pin Count & Configuration | 5 pins: 2 dual-purpose power conductors (L1/DC+ and L2/DC-), 1 Ground (GND), 1 Control Pilot (CP), 1 Digital Communication pin |
| Form Factor Size | Approx. 50% the physical volume and weight of bulky CCS Combo 1 handles |
| Maximum DC Charging Rate | 1000 V DC, 500 A+ continuous (liquid-cooled V4 Superchargers capable of 350 kW to 600 kW+) |
| Maximum AC Charging Rate | 240 V / 48 A single-phase AC (11.5 kW home wall connector) or 277 V commercial AC (13.3 kW) |
| Solid-State Multiplexing | Vehicle internal high-voltage contactors dynamically switch the dual pins between the onboard AC charger and the direct DC battery pack |
| Industry Adoption | Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Honda, Volvo/Polestar, VW Group (native ports 2025+) |
The Pin Multiplexing Revolution
Unlike CCS which grafted two huge DC pins beneath an AC plug resulting in a massive, heavy handle, SAE J3400 shares the same two thick copper pins for both AC and DC. An internal motorized contactor matrix in the vehicle senses the power source: when plugged into a 240V home charger, it routes current to the onboard AC inverter; when connected to a DC Supercharger, it routes directly to the 400V / 800V traction battery.