The EV Owners

There’s never a dull day in the electric car industry. Two years ago, Ford CEO Jim Farley shocked the world by announcing that the automaker’s battery-powered cars would be the first non-Tesla EVs to gain access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

Fast-forward to the end of 2025, and Ford–the company that kickstarted a radical transformation of America’s EV charging landscape–has dramatically reduced its electric car ambitions.

Other automakers, as well as many charging operators, have already embarked on this voyage, though, so there’s no turning back now. As a result, we’re now knee-deep into a transitional phase that will likely last for years to come, forcing EV owners to know about charging adapters.

Not only that, but all EV owners in North America should carry at least one charging adapter in their cars at all times. As charging stations are constantly being upgraded, you never know when you might find yourself with a dead battery, a fully functional charger at your fingertips and a socket it won’t fit into.

But don’t fret, because we have your back with a comprehensive EV charging adapter guide that should help everyone wrap their heads around the weird and wonderful world that we find ourselves in right now.

What charging adapter do I need for my EV?

The first thing is to know what type of charging port is on the car. Based on this, we can then establish what adapters are needed for each charging situation. In North America, four charging connectors are available on electric cars and plug-in hybrids, but two of them are the de facto standards for most battery-powered cars sold today.

EV and PHEV charging port types in North America

Photo by: InsideEVs

CCS1 (Combined Charging System 1): DC fast charging or AC charging/Level 1, Level 2

This was, for the longest time, the default choice for American automakers, so it can be found on the vast majority of non-Tesla EVs and PHEVs sold stateside. The two large pins at the bottom are for DC fast charging, while the round part at the top, called a J1772 port, handles AC charging and the communication between the charger and the vehicle.

DC fast charging adapters for CCS1-equipped vehicles

Photo by: InsideEVs

AC charging adapters for CCS1-equipped vehicles

Photo by: InsideEVs

If your car has this type of charging port, you’ll need two charging adapters at hand. When trying to charge at a Tesla Supercharger or other DC fast chargers that have a Tesla-style NACS cable, you’ll need to use a NACS to CCS1 adapter.

If you’re at a hotel, a parking garage or other place that has a Level 2 Tesla Destination Charger, you’ll need an NACS to J1772 charging adapter. The NACS plugs look the same for both DC and AC chargers, but the charging adapters are different.

If you want to use a charger that has a CCS1 or a J1772 cable, then you’re good to go without an adapter. Since J1772 sockets are pretty common these days, if you only carry one adapter, it should be the NACS to CCS1 dongle.

J1772: AC charging only (Level 1 or Level 2)

This type of adapter is included in the CCS1 connector. However, some cars, such as most plug-in hybrids and older EVs, cannot be fast-charged, so they only have a slow charging port.

AC charging adapters for J1772-equipped vehicles

Photo by: InsideEVs

If your car has a J1772 charging port and you want to charge from a Tesla Destination Charger or other AC charger that has a NACS cable, you’ll need a NACS to J1772 adapter. The J1772 port cannot be used for DC fast charging, so if you have a NACS to CCS1 adapter, it won’t work. This type of port also cannot be used at Tesla Superchargers.

NACS (North American Charging Standard): DC fast charging or AC charging (Level 1, Level 2)

All modern Tesla EVs sold in the United States and Canada are fitted with this type of connector, which was invented by Tesla. It’s also the connector of choice at all Tesla Superchargers in North America.

That said, more and more legacy automakers are installing NACS charging ports on their EVs from the factory, which means the number of cars that might need a charging adapter is growing by the day. Some of the non-Tesla EVs that have a Tesla-style charging port are the 2026 Rivian R1S and R1T, 2026 Nissan Leaf, 2026 Cadillac Optiq, 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5, 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 and 2025 Lucid Gravity.

DC fast charging adapters for NACS-equipped vehicles

Photo by: InsideEVs

AC charging adapters for NACS-equipped vehicles

Photo by: InsideEVs

If your car has a NACS charging port, you can use any Tesla Supercharger, Tesla Destination Charger or any other NACS-equipped charger without an adapter. If you want to charge at a CCS1-equipped DC fast charger—like most existing Electrify America and EVGo stalls—you’ll need a CCS1 to NACS adapter. If you want to charge at a J1772 Level 2 charger, you’ll need a NACS to J1772 adapter.

CHAdeMO: DC fast charging

This was the original fast charging standard, but it’s now nearing obsolescence in North America, as automakers have shifted to CCS1 or NACS. That said, there were still a number EVs and PHEVs that have a CHAdeMO connector, including the first two generations of the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. But this standard is rapidly disappearing. 

DC fast charging adapters for CHAdeMO-equipped vehicles

Photo by: InsideEVs

The good news is that there are some CCS1 to CHAdeMO adapters for fast charging out there, which makes it much easier to use CHAdeMO-equipped cars in the modern world. The bad news? These adapters are more expensive than all the others listed here, and they are not officially recognized by any automaker or the CHAdeMO Association.

So while there are options out there, owners should use this type of adapter at their own risk. It’s also worth noting that the CHAdeMO port cannot be used for Level 1 or Level 2 charging.

Where can I buy the right charging adapters for my EV?

As a rule of thumb, almost all automakers sell manufacturer-approved charging adapters. You can find them on their official websites or at your local dealer. Adapters made by third-party companies are also widely available, but bear in mind that these are not approved by the manufacturers. What’s more, some cheap adapters are downright dangerous.

Is my car’s warranty affected if I use a charging adapter?

Generally speaking, no. But it’s important to remember that the warranty can be voided if a third-party adapter is used and something goes wrong during a charging session. To avoid this, the best course of action is to use manufacturer-approved adapters, which are sold by the car companies themselves online or at dealers. 

BMW is currently the only car manufacturer that recommends using a third-party adapter with an interlock made by Lectron, a company that also builds adapters for other car companies. 

Lectron, A2Z and Amphenol sell UL2252-certified adapters, so if you can’t get your hands on one that is sold directly by the car manufacturer, a safety-certified one from a third party is the best course of action, as long as you remember the warranty limitation. 

A solid adapter will cost you around $200. But that’s a low price to pay for peace of mind.

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