Last verified: 5 October 2026
| Plug | Used for | Who has it | Where it works | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCS2 | DC fast charging | Every new EV in AU (incl. Tesla) | All public DC networks | The standard |
| Type 2 | AC charging (home/destination) | Every new EV in AU | Wallboxes, destination chargers | The standard |
| NACS | Tesla Supercharging | US-market Teslas (AU cars use CCS2) | Supercharger sites | Niche in AU |
| CHAdeMO | Legacy DC | Pre-2022 Leaf, Outlander PHEV | Shrinking number of sites | Phasing out |
| Type 1 (J1772) | Legacy AC | Older Leaf, early imports | Needs Type 1→2 cable | Legacy |
What to actually buy and carry
- A Type 2 to Type 2 cable (if your car didn't come with one) — untethered AC posts are everywhere and useless without it. Budget $150–300 for a quality 7kW-rated cable.
- Nothing else, probably. CCS2 covers DC. Adapters exist (CHAdeMO→CCS2) but are expensive and only relevant to legacy Leaf owners.
- A 10A or 15A portable charger as a get-home-safe option — glacially slow (8–12km of range per hour) but any power point becomes a charger.
Why the NACS question keeps coming up
In North America, the industry adopted Tesla's NACS plug wholesale. In Australia it doesn't apply: AU-market Teslas ship with CCS2, and the open-access Supercharger sites serve CCS2 cars directly. The practical NACS question here is simply "which Superchargers can my non-Tesla use" — roughly two-thirds of the 116 sites, listed in the Tesla network page.
Frequently asked questions
CCS2 (Combined Charging System, type 2) is the plug standard for DC fast charging on virtually every EV sold in Australia. It combines the Type 2 AC plug with two big DC pins below. If your car has CCS2, it can use every public fast charger in the country.
NACS is Tesla's plug design, used at Superchargers. Australian-delivered Teslas and all other new EVs here have CCS2 ports, so NACS only matters at Supercharger sites — and Tesla's open-access sites accept CCS2 cars with an adapter cable built in.
Effectively, yes. CHAdeMO served older Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs, but no new EV uses it and networks are removing CHAdeMO plugs as sites upgrade. Leaf owners should keep a Type 1-to-Type 2 cable and plan DC stops early.
Yes — BYO Type 2 cable is the norm at destination chargers (shopping centres, hotels, councils). Most AC posts are untethered, so the cable that came with your car is essential kit. Keep it in the boot.