J1772, NACS, and CCS are the connector names you will see most often in North American electric vehicle charging. They overlap in some ways and differ in others. For a home charger, the most important point is that only the AC side of each connector matters for Level 2 charging. This article compares them so you can see where each one fits and what it means for a home installation.
Quick comparison
| Connector | Charging types | Where you usually see it | Relevance for a home charger |
|---|---|---|---|
| J1772 | AC Level 1 and Level 2 only | Standard AC connector on most non-Tesla vehicles in North America | Matches a J1772 home charger directly |
| CCS (CCS1 in North America) | AC through the J1772 section, plus DC fast charging through two larger pins | Combined ports on vehicles that support DC fast charging | The AC part works like J1772 at home; DC fast charging is not a home installation |
| NACS (SAE J3400) | AC and DC through one connector | Vehicles from makers that use or have announced plans to adopt NACS | Matches a NACS home charger directly |
AC and DC charging
AC charging sends alternating current to the car, and the onboard charger converts it to direct current for the battery. Level 2 AC charging is the usual choice for home. DC fast charging bypasses the onboard charger and sends direct current straight to the battery at much higher power. That is why DC fast-charging stations are found along highways and in public locations, while home chargers are almost always AC.
Where J1772 fits
J1772 is the AC standard used by most non-Tesla electric vehicles in North America. It handles Level 1 and Level 2 charging. Many vehicles that use J1772 for AC also have a combined port for DC fast charging, which is where the CCS name comes in. For a home charger, the J1772 section is the part that matters. The large DC pins are not used during home charging.
Where NACS fits
NACS is a single connector designed for both AC and DC charging, and its design is smaller than a combined CCS port. For home charging, a NACS plug on a home charger works the same way as a J1772 plug on the AC side. The charger offers power, the car accepts up to its own limit, and the circuit must be sized correctly. The main practical difference is which vehicles can connect without an adapter.
Choosing for a home installation
For home charging, the connector question comes down to what plugs into your car. If the car uses J1772, choose a J1772 charger. If it uses NACS, choose a NACS charger. Home chargers are usually sold as J1772 or NACS, because the AC side of CCS uses the J1772 plug. Whichever connector you choose, the electrical requirements stay the same. A 40 amp charger needs a 50 amp circuit, a 48 amp charger needs a 60 amp circuit and must be hardwired, and a licensed electrician should do hardwired work. Local permits and inspection may apply.
How this applies to EVIQO chargers
All five EVIQO chargers are 240-volt Level 2 AC units, so none is a DC fast charger and none is a CCS unit. EVIQO sells three J1772 options: a 40 amp model that can be installed as a plug-in unit or hardwired at 48 amps, a 48 amp hardwired model, and a 40 amp NEMA 14-50 plug-in model. It also sells two NACS options: a 48 amp hardwired model and a 40 amp NEMA 14-50 plug-in model. Every EVIQO charger has a 25 ft cable and a 3-year warranty, and a 4-year extended warranty is available for an additional charge. At 40 amps the chargers add about 38 miles of range per hour, and at 48 amps about 46 miles per hour.