CCS to J1772 Explained: What Every EV Owner Should Know

During the process of driving an electric vehicle, the compatibility of the charging interface is often one of the most concerned issues for car owners.Especially when switching between different types of charging station, it is particularly important to understand differences of all kinds of charging standards. CCS and J1772 are the two most common interface specifications in the current North American market, and the "CCS to J1772" adapter has become a key tool for many car owners to explore charging flexibility. Theoretically, vehicles with the J1772 port can be connected to the CCS network, expanding the charging scenarios. However, in practical applications, this adaptation not only involves physical interface matching, but also needs to take into account technical details such as current carrying capacity, safety, and protocol compatibility.For any hope to optimize charging EV user experience, deep understanding of the core difference between the two kinds of standard and the scenario applied to the adapter, is the first step to make wise decisions.

What is J1772?

J1772 is a standard AC charging interface widely adopted by EVs in North America. It was developed by SAE to unify EV charging system specifications.The connector adopts a 5-pin design, which can transmit power and realize communication between the vehicle and the charging pile, and is widely used in level 1 and level 2 charging equipment. The core specifications of J1772 include a maximum power output of 19.2 kW, an AC voltage of up to 240V, and a current capacity of up to 80A. Its internal structure consists of two high-power pins and three small-signal pins, which are respectively responsible for functions such as power transmission, grounding, proximity detection and pilot signal control, thereby ensuring the safety and intelligence of the charging process. Since 2009, most mainstream car brands have begun to adopt this standard, and J1772 has gradually become the mainstream interface in the North American EV market. Tesla models need an adapter to use the J1772 interface charging station, while most other brands of electric vehicles have it as the default configuration.With a built-in communication protocol, J1772 can complete connection verification before charging, preventing incorrect power supply and improving overall security and user experience.

What is CCS?

CCS is a standard interface for EVs that integrates AC and DC charging functions, aiming to simplify the configuration of charging ports and enhance charging efficiency.It adds two independent DC pins under the traditional AC interface, so that the same plug can not only support the slow charging of family level, but also connect the high-speed DC fast charging pile to achieve high power recharge. CCS is currently divided into two main versions: CCS1 and CCS2. Among them, the CCS1 is the mainstream in the North American market and is compatible with most American and German brand EVs. The system supports charging from ordinary AC to ultra-fast DC charging up to 350 kW, providing users with flexible charging options. Major car manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and General Motors have all adopted CCS as the standard charging interface.Through the unified communication protocol, the CCS interface can exchange real-time information with the vehicle during the charging process to ensure the safety and stability of the power supply process. At the same time, the interface itself features a solid mechanical structure and sealed design, which can withstand various weather conditions and prevent electrical risks during the plugging and unplugging process, further enhancing the overall safety and reliability of use.

Is CCS to J1772 Feasible?

Converting the CCS interface to J1772 is no easy task. This adaptation faces multiple technical challenges as there are significant differences in working voltage between the two.The CCS supports fast DC charging up to 400V to 800V, while the J1772 is designed for 240V AC charging. The communication protocols used by the two standards are also incompatible. CCS relies on advanced protocols such as ISO 15118 to support more complex communication between vehicles and charging stations, while J1772 uses a more basic pilot signal system. To achieve compatibility between the two, complex electronic modules with voltage conversion, protocol bridging, safety monitoring and thermal management functions must be used. This not only increases the manufacturing cost and size of the adapter, but may also cause efficiency losses during the charging process. At present, there are hardly any mainstream manufacturers in the market that have launched widely compatible CCS to J1772 conversion products. The few existing prototype devices are mostly only compatible with specific vehicle models and have limitations in actual charging speed and stability. High production costs, the complexity of regulatory certifications, and the uncertainty of vehicle compatibility, among other factors, keep this technology still in the exploratory stage. In different regions, the differences in regulatory standards also pose obstacles to the commercialization of adapters. For the majority of users, the current adaptation solution from CCS to J1772 is not yet mature and is not recommended as the main solution for daily charging.

Benefits of CCS

CCS is gradually becoming one of the mainstream standards for electric vehicles worldwide due to its excellent charging efficiency and wide compatibility.Compared with traditional secondary AC charging, CCS can achieve a power output of up to 350 kW under ideal conditions through DC fast charging technology, which greatly reduces the charging time and can replenish the power from 10% to 80% in as soon as 20 to 60 minutes. This system integrates AC and DC charging modes into one interface, simplifying the design of on-board hardware, and supports intelligent communication, identity verification, temperature monitoring and two-way charging functions between vehicles and charging piles, providing a technical foundation for future vehicle networking and energy feedback. More importantly, CCS is highly versatile and has been adopted by most mainstream EV brands in North America and Europe. The charging infrastructure in highways and urban core areas is expanding rapidly, supporting users to complete seamless payment and charging session management through apps or RFID cards.Through the use of CCS adapters, some originally incompatible models can also be connected to a wider fast-charging network, alleviating range anxiety, and providing a platform for the integration of renewable energy and smart grid, so that the whole charging ecology is moving towards efficiency and sustainability.

Difference Between J1772 and CCS

Both J1772 and CCS are common charging interface standards for electric vehicles, but they have essential differences in design purposes and technical capabilities.J1772 is a North American standard level 1 and level 2 charging interface designed to transmit AC telex to an on-board charger for everyday slow charging scenarios, such as home or office charging. CCS, on the other hand, is an extended design based on J1772. It adds two DC pins below the original AC pins, thus supporting both AC and DC charging simultaneously in the same interface. In terms of physical structure, the J1772 is designed with five pins and is relatively small in size. The CCS interface, on the other hand, adopts a seven-pin layout, is slightly larger in size, and extends at the bottom for transmitting high-power direct current. The maximum charging power of J1772 is 19.2kW and it is only available for AC charging. CCS is compatible with the AC part of J1772 and can additionally support up to 350 kW of DC fast charging, significantly accelerating the energy replenishment speed. Although CCS is more powerful in function, it still maintains backward compatibility and can charge vehicles in AC mode on standard J1772 charging stations. Overall, the J1772 is more suitable for slow and overnight charging, while the CCS is targeted at users who need quick energy replenishment, such as during long-distance driving, reflecting the positioning differences between the two in charging scenarios.

Is There a J1772 to CCS Adapter?

Currently, there is no real J1772-CCS adapter on the market, which mainly stems from the fundamental differences in the way of power transmission and hardware design between the two.J1772 is designed for AC charging, mainly used in level 1 and 2 charging, while CCS is based on J1772 to add DC fast charging function, operating voltage up to 1000V, supporting high power output. Since the J1772 is unable to handle direct current and does not possess the communication protocols and security systems required for CCS, it is not feasible to directly convert its signals and power into CCS for use. The two interfaces also differ in physical structure. The J1772 is a single-plug five-pin design, while the CCS includes additional DC pins, which further limits the possibility of simple conversion. Although CCS charging stations can achieve AC charging through the upper part being compatible with J1772 plugs, the reverse conversion from J1772 to CCS requires a large amount of power conversion equipment and a safety management system, far exceeding the capacity of ordinary adapters. Currently, there are a few CCS to J1772 adapters available on the market, which are typically used to enable vehicles with CCS interfaces to charge at J1772 charging stations in environments with only AC charging stations. However, these are limited to AC mode and do not support DC fast charging.

Conclusion

The CCS to J1772 adapter serves as a bridge between charging standards, providing flexibility for electric vehicles equipped with CCS interfaces to use J1772 AC charging piles. This type of adapter does not require any permanent modification to the vehicle. Users only need to insert it between the vehicle and the charging pile to complete the connection. Although they do not support DC fast charging, they offer practical supplementary means in environments with underdeveloped public infrastructure or home charging.As the EV market evolves, more manufacturers are offering certified products, and adapters are evolving toward greater efficiency and safety. As transitional tools before the unification of standards, they help users make full use of existing charging resources and alleviate the charging limitations caused by incompatible interfaces.Proper maintenance and proper use will further extend the life of the adapter and ensure a stable role in daily charging.