CCS (Combined Charging System)

CCS (Combined Charging System) is a charging connector standard that combines AC and DC charging capabilities into a single vehicle inlet. It exists in two variants: CCS1, used primarily in North America and based on the J1772 AC connector, and CCS2, used throughout Europe and most other global markets, based on the Type 2 connector.

CCS has become the dominant public DC charging standard in Europe and supports everything from overnight AC charging to ultra-high-power DC charging on the same connector.

How CCS Works

The CCS connector consists of two parts:

• The upper section is used for AC charging.
• Two large pins at the bottom are used for DC fast charging.

When charging with AC, only the upper section is used. During DC charging, the charger bypasses the vehicle's onboard charger and supplies high-voltage DC power directly to the battery through the lower pins.

Communication between the charger and vehicle takes place using Power Line Communication (PLC), allowing the charger and vehicle to negotiate charging power, battery limits, authentication, and safety functions.

Charging Performance

The CCS specification supports voltages of up to 1000V DC, making it suitable for both traditional 400V EVs and modern 800V platforms.

For many years, public CCS chargers were typically limited to around 350 kW using liquid-cooled cables capable of delivering approximately 500A.

Recent developments have significantly increased the practical capabilities of CCS. New generations of high-current chargers can deliver 800A or more, allowing compatible vehicles to exceed 500 kW without changing the connector itself.

Examples include:

• XPENG X9 charging at up to 540 kW using approximately 800A on compatible HPC chargers.
• BYD Super e-Platform vehicles supporting flash charging at up to 1000 kW (1 MW) on BYD's own megawatt charging infrastructure while still using a CCS2-compatible connector in markets such as Europe.

These vehicles achieve their high charging power through a combination of:

• 800V or higher battery systems
• Batteries designed for very high C-rates
• Advanced thermal management
• High-current liquid-cooled charging cables

The connector itself is rarely the limiting factor. In most cases, battery chemistry, cooling capability, and charger current determine the achievable charging power.

Why CCS Matters

CCS2 is the mandatory public DC charging connector throughout the European Union and is supported by virtually every public fast-charging network, including IONITY, Fastned, Allego, Circle K, Tesla Superchargers open to CCS vehicles, and many regional operators.

Virtually every non-Tesla EV sold in Europe uses CCS2, providing excellent interoperability across charging networks.

In North America, CCS1 was the dominant standard for many years. However, most manufacturers are now transitioning to NACS (North American Charging Standard) for new vehicle launches while maintaining CCS compatibility through adapters and existing infrastructure.

Advantages

• Single connector for both AC and DC charging
• Widely supported across Europe
• Supports both 400V and 800V battery architectures
• Compatible with Plug & Charge (ISO 15118)
• Scales from slow AC charging to ultra-high-power charging exceeding 500 kW
• Future-proof enough to support megawatt-class passenger EV charging

Common Values

Looking Ahead

Although North America is moving toward NACS, CCS2 continues to be the global standard across Europe and many international markets. The rapid increase in charging power—from around 350 kW only a few years ago to over 500 kW today—shows that CCS still has considerable headroom. As higher-current chargers become more common, the limiting factor is increasingly the vehicle's battery rather than the connector itself.