EV charging comes in two main types: AC and DC. Both put energy into the same battery, but they work differently and suit different situations.
How they differ
Batteries store energy as direct current (DC), while the grid supplies alternating current (AC). With AC charging, the charger supplies AC and your car's onboard charger converts it to DC. The onboard charger limits the speed. With DC charging, the station converts the power itself and sends DC directly to the battery, which allows much higher speeds.
| AC charging | DC fast charging | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slower, limited by the car's onboard charger | Much faster |
| Where | Home, workplace, hotels, malls | Highways, city hubs, fleet depots |
| Typical time | Several hours for a large top-up | Tens of minutes to around 80% |
| Cost | Usually cheaper, especially at home | Usually higher per kWh |
| Connector (cars) | Type 2 | CCS2 |
When to use AC
- Overnight at home or in your housing society.
- At work while your car is parked for the day.
- At hotels and long visits.
When to use DC
- On road trips, to get back on the road quickly.
- When you need a top-up in a hurry.
- For commercial vehicles with little parked time.
Think of AC as everyday charging and DC as charging on the move. Most drivers do most of their charging on AC and use DC when they travel.