What does NACS mean in electric-vehicle charging?

NACS means North American Charging Standard in electric-vehicle charging.

The name refers to the charging connector and communication system originally developed by Tesla for its vehicles and Supercharger network. Tesla opened the design to other manufacturers in 2022 and promoted the NACS name for broader adoption in North America.

The connector is smaller than the Combined Charging System 1 connector because it uses the same physical inlet for both alternating-current charging and direct-current fast charging. Its adoption by other automakers accelerated during the 2020s, particularly for vehicles sold in the United States and Canada.

NACS is also commonly called the Tesla connector, especially when discussing earlier Tesla vehicles. It is distinct from CCS, CHAdeMO and the Type 2 connector used widely in Europe. The acronym describes a North American standard, not a battery chemistry or charging speed.