In this article, let's join Vcharge to learn and explore more deeply about how DC fast charging and AC regular charging work and the important differences between them. This is a very important step to better understand electric vehicle charging technology and choose the right option for your needs.
AC Regular Charging
AC charging is the simplest type of charging. Level 2 AC chargers are commonly used in most homes, parks, offices, shopping centers, and more. The popularity of these chargers comes from their compatibility with regular outlets, making them convenient for users.
Level 1 chargers, which are suitable and compatible with 120-volt household outlets, take about 8-12 hours to fully charge the battery, providing an average range of 250 km. Level 2 chargers require 208-240V power sources and are usually installed as wall-mounted chargers at home or at charging stations. Typically, to fully charge an average EV battery with a Level 2 charger takes about 3-8 hours.
Most electric vehicle owners tend to prefer and choose Level 2 chargers for home installation because it allows them to easily charge their cars using the existing household power source. Moreover, the important thing is that Level 2 chargers can charge the car 10 times faster than Level 1 chargers.
DC Fast Charging
Skipping the two previous chargers, DC fast charging bypasses all the limits of a regular charger. DC fast charging is a Level 3 charger, providing direct DC power to the battery. This significantly increases the charging speed and greatly reduces charging time. However, the actual charging time depends on the battery size and the output of the vehicle's distribution unit. For many electric vehicles, one hour can charge up to 80% of the battery, just by using the existing DC fast charger.
However, older electric vehicle models still have some limitations regarding charging, allowing only 50kW on DC chargers. Modern EVs no longer have this limitation; instead, they can even accept up to 270kW. Since the advent of EV chargers, battery sizes have increased significantly. Today, there are many higher outputs available, matching some modern chargers that provide 350kW.