DC direct current charger advantage

DC charging for electric vehicles

As we've learned, power from the grid is always AC. The difference between AC charging and DC charging is the location where the AC power gets converted; inside or outside the car. Unlike AC chargers, a DC charger has the converter inside the charger itself. That means it can feed power directly to the car's battery and doesn't need the onboard charger to convert it. DC chargers are bigger, faster, and an exciting breakthrough when it comes to EVs.

A DC charging station is technologically much more complex and many times more expensive than an AC charging station and moreover it requires a powerful source. In addition, a DC charging station must be able to communicate with the car instead of the on-board charger in order to be able to adjust the output power parameters according to the condition and capability of the battery.

A DC installation requires a lot of power from the grid (around 125 A). This makes its costs (production, installation and operation) quite high, resulting in higher tariffs for charging. However, as it usually allows for much faster charging, it is the preferred charging method to quickly recharge during long-distance trips (for cars that support DC charging). This type of chargers is mostly found along highways, rather than at home or business locations.

Where do I find DC charging?

DC charging, different from AC charging which is mostly for charging your car at home or work because you'll need more time to load. , is more common near highways or at public charging stations, where you don't have much time to recharge. But DC charging is making its way into home charging, offering new possibilities for customers since it allows not only fast charging but also bidirectional charging.