What is the difference between AC and DC charging?

Short answer: batteries store direct current (DC), while the grid supplies alternating current (AC). With AC charging, the car's on-board charger does the conversion and power is usually limited to 7.4–22 kW. With DC charging, the conversion happens in the charging station, the battery is fed directly, and power can reach 40 kW to 350 kW. AC is used at home and for long stays; DC on trips and short stops.

Comparison

• Where: AC at home, at work and in car parks; DC at motorway services, fuel stations and urban fast-charging hubs.
• Power: AC usually 3.7–22 kW; DC 40–350 kW.
• Time: a 60 kWh battery charges fully in about 6 hours at 11 kW AC; DC takes 20–45 minutes for 20–80%.
• Connector: in Turkey and Europe, Type 2 for AC and CCS2 (Combo 2) for DC.
• Cable: at some AC chargers you plug in your own Type 2 cable; at DC chargers the cable is attached to the station.
• Cost: public DC charging costs more per kWh than AC; home AC charging is the cheapest.

Effect on the battery

Car makers design batteries for both AC and DC charging and manage charging power according to battery temperature and state of charge. Charging daily at home on AC and using DC fast charging on trips is the widely accepted approach for both cost and battery life.

Which product for which type of charging?

• AC: home chargers (wallbox), portable chargers, Type 2 charging cables.
• DC: DC fast chargers for businesses (40–200 kW, CCS2).

• → Home EV chargers (AC)
• → DC fast chargers
• → EV charging cables