Charger power is the biggest single choice in a charging project. It drives equipment cost, grid connection size and the experience drivers get. The right answer depends on two things above all: which vehicles will use the site, and how long they will stay.
Start with dwell time
Dwell time is how long a vehicle is parked. A car at a hotel overnight has eight hours or more; a car at a highway stop has twenty minutes. Charging only needs to be fast enough to deliver the energy the driver wants within that time.
| Power | Typical dwell | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| 30–60 kW | 1–8 hours | Hotels, offices, housing societies, hospitals, van depots |
| 60–120 kW | 45 minutes to 2 hours | Malls, restaurants, cinemas, city hubs |
| 120–240 kW | 15–45 minutes | Highway stops, busy urban fast-charging hubs |
| 240–600 kW | Layovers and shift changes | Bus depots and terminals, intercity coaches |
| Up to 1,200 kW | Driver rest breaks | Heavy truck charging on freight corridors |
Check what vehicles can accept
A vehicle only charges as fast as its own battery and electronics allow. Many cars accept far less than the fastest chargers offer, and two- and three-wheelers need dedicated light EV chargers. Installing a 240 kW charger where most visitors drive cars that accept 50 kW wastes money.
Check your grid connection
Power must come from somewhere. A 30–60 kW charger may fit within an existing commercial connection; several 240 kW chargers will usually need a new high-tension connection and transformer. A load study early on shows what is possible without an upgrade.
A good rule: choose the lowest power that delivers the energy your visitors need during their stay, then reserve space and cabling to add more later.
Plan for growth
Vehicles are accepting more power each year, and EV numbers are rising. Modular chargers and shared power cabinets let you start at a sensible level and add power modules as demand grows, without replacing equipment.
How PxT can help
PxT Energies helps site owners assess their location, choose the right chargers and pick a business model, then installs and runs the site. Talk to us about a free initial site assessment.