DC fast charging — CCS, CHAdeMO, or Tesla Supercharger explained
Three standards, three connectors, plenty of confusion. We explain the difference between CCS2, CHAdeMO, and Tesla NACS — which works with which car and what it means for you in Bulgaria.
When you pull up to a DC fast charger, you might see 2–3 different connectors. Which one fits your car? Why are there so many standards? And what's happening to them going forward? Here's the full explanation.
The three main DC standards
CCS2 (Combined Charging System, Combo 2)
CCS2 is the de facto European standard, and since 2025 it has been mandatory for all new EVs sold in the EU. The connector combines AC (Type 2) and DC charging in a single connector — hence "Combined."
Which cars: the Volkswagen ID lineup, BMW iX, Hyundai IONIQ 6, Kia EV6, Renault Megane E-Tech, MG4, all BYD models, Audi Q4 e-tron, and practically every new EV sold in the EU market.
Speed: from 50 kW up to 350 kW+ at the newest HPC (High Power Charging) stations.
In Bulgaria: CCS2 is available at all modern public chargers — Eldrive, OMV Electra, Pulse.
CHAdeMO
CHAdeMO is a Japanese standard developed by Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. It was the dominant standard in Europe until 2018–2019, when CCS2 overtook it.
Which cars: the Nissan Leaf (older models), the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (older versions only), the first-generation Kia Soul EV.
Important: Since 2023, Nissan has officially switched to CCS2 for new models. CHAdeMO is being phased out — no new CHAdeMO stations are being installed in Europe anymore.
In Bulgaria: If you have a Nissan Leaf with CHAdeMO, availability is limited and shrinking. Many operators no longer support CHAdeMO connectors when upgrading their equipment.
Recommendation: When buying a used Nissan Leaf, check whether it has CHAdeMO or CCS2. Newer Leafs come with CCS2.
Tesla Supercharger (NACS)
Tesla developed its own connector — NACS (North American Charging Standard). In Europe, Tesla has traditionally used CCS2 for Supercharger stations (not NACS), so European Tesla vehicles are CCS2-compatible.
Which cars: all Teslas sold in Europe — Model 3, Y, S, X, and the Cybertruck (EU version).
In Bulgaria: Tesla Supercharger stations use CCS2 connectors. Since 2024, they've been open to non-Tesla vehicles with a CCS2 connector (payment through the Supercharger app).
Important: Superchargers open to non-Tesla vehicles offer slightly lower maximum power compared to Tesla's own vehicles, but the difference is minor at 150–200 kW.
Real-world charging speeds
The maximum stated power is rarely reached in practice. Here are more realistic figures:
| Standard | Rated max | Realistic in Bulgaria | Charging 20–80% (60 kWh) | |---|---|---|---| | CCS2 50 kW | 50 kW | 45–50 kW | ~50 min | | CCS2 150 kW | 150 kW | 120–140 kW | ~22 min | | CCS2 350 kW | 350 kW | depends on the car | ~15 min (Tesla/Porsche only) | | Tesla Supercharger V3 | 250 kW | 200–230 kW (Tesla) | ~20 min (Model Y LR) |
Why isn't the maximum reached? The battery doesn't accept maximum power throughout the entire charge — it only peaks between 10–40% charge. At a higher percentage, the power drops (the so-called "charging curve").
Tapering — the charging curve explained
Every battery has a "charging curve." For CCS2 at 150 kW:
- 0–20%: full power, 150 kW
- 20–50%: 120–140 kW
- 50–70%: 80–100 kW
- 70–80%: 50–70 kW
- 80–100%: 20–40 kW (very slow)
That's why "charge to 80%" is the practical rule of thumb for DC charging — the last 20% can take almost as long as the stretch from 20% to 80%.
Adapters — solution or problem
CCS2 to CHAdeMO: they exist, but they're rare and usually limit power to 50 kW. They are not officially supported by manufacturers.
Tesla CCS2 adapter: Tesla offers an official CCS2 adapter for the European market. It allows charging at non-Supercharger CCS2 stations, and it's now included standard with new Teslas.
The future of charging standards
NACS in Europe: Ford, GM, Rivian, and several European brands have announced a switch to NACS in North America. In Europe, regulators mandated CCS2 as the standard through 2025, so no change is expected for the EU market anytime soon.
CHAdeMO: officially being phased out in Europe. Japanese automakers still support it in Asia. When buying an EV for the EU — avoid CHAdeMO.
Mega-fast 350 kW+: the next level is 350 kW charging (supported by the Hyundai IONIQ 5/6, Porsche Taycan, and the new Kia EV9). There are no such stations in Bulgaria yet, but OMV Electra plans to roll out 300 kW+ HPC chargers by the end of 2026.
Practical tips when buying
1. Buy only CCS2 — avoid cars with CHAdeMO only when purchasing new 2. Check the maximum DC power — 50 kW is the minimum; 100+ kW is needed for comfortable travel 3. The charging curve matters — not just peak power, but how it tapers between 40–80% 4. Plan with ABRP in Bulgaria — check CCS2 availability along your route
Conclusion
For buyers in Bulgaria, the choice is simple: CCS2 is the standard, everything else is legacy. Every new EV for the EU market is CCS2. Bulgaria's network is growing around CCS2. Tesla Superchargers are open to CCS2. If you have a CCS2 car, the entire public charging market is open to you.