And in the early 1900s, Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla were both developing the kinds of electricity that we use today. Edison promoted direct current (DC) which was the first mains power in the USA. Unlike this, Tesla invented alternating current (AC) to resolve some of the issues with DC. The rivalry and innovation of these two important scientists paved way for major technological steps to be taken and create competition in the power industry and lead us to modern electrical systems and create the foundation for ac vs dc charging for electric vehicles.
There Are 2 Types of Electric Current
Electric current is classified as two types: AC and DC.
在讨论电动汽车充电时，经常会遇到ac vs dc charging的问题。DC flows in a constant direction, so it is similar to the flow of a river. It is commonly generated using batteries, solar cells, and such sources.
The electricity is directed towards the positive side and the negative side, and this is reversed when alternating current ( A ) switches the sides. It is derived from juice and stores. Contrarily, power plants generate AC which is transmitted to houses.
Alternative Current
Power plants generate alternating current, or AC; they convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. AC power has an advantage — the voltage can be easily transformed from one level to another using transformers. As a result, it is well-suited for long-distance transmission of electricity. This explains why AC power is the global standard in electricity grids and can be accessed from wall outlets around the world. AC can be switched to DC as required by conver.
Direct Current
DC (Direct Current) or the constant flow of charged particles in a single direction is produced by batteries, rectifying devices, and generators or photovoltaic cells. DC stands for Direct Current and refers to the unidirectional flow of electric charge, where the flow of charge remains constant over time.
DC power is broadly used in electronics, telecommunications, automotive systems, and renewable energy. For example, when charging EV batteries we simply change AC into DC to achieve power transfer in an efficient way.
Electric Vehicle Charging: AC Charging and DC Charging Explained
You can only recharge a battery — including the battery in your EV — with direct current (DC). As such, the primary difference between AC charging and DC charging is about where the conversion from AC to DC occurs, inside or outside of the vehicle.
What is AC Charging for EVs
AC charging is the most basic way of recharging EVs. The onboard charger (OBC) inside the car takes electrical power from charging stations or wall plugs (typically in AC format) and converts it to DC power. This converted DC power is then sent to the car’s battery. AC charging has a vast market and while some chargers are DC based, indeed, most charger types rely on AC power.
What is DC Charging for EVs
DC charging is an exciting new development for EVs. In other words, since power from the electrical grid is always delivered in AC form, the big difference between AC charging and DC charging is where the AC power conversion actually happens. DC chargers differ from AC chargers in that the converter is actually built directly into the charger itself. That means they can deliver power directly to the car’s battery without requiring the onboard charger to do the conversion. DC chargers: Large, fast and show major EV tech evolution.
AC Charging vs DC Charging for Electric Cars
AC charging vs DC charging is an important consideration for your EV. Both come with their specific pros and cons, affecting everything from charging time to infrastructure availability to general convenience. This guide takes you through the differences between AC and DC chargers so you can decide which is best for your EV.
Charging Speed
One big factor that separates AC and DC charging: speed. That’s because DC charging supplies more power than AC charging, which converts electricity outside the car. But the speed of DC charging also depends heavily on the size of the battery, its state of charge, temperature and the way that the power varies over time.
For a car with battery capacity 60 kWh and efficiency 4 miles per kWh, here’s an estimate of its ranges every 30-minute charging:
3.5 kW (AC): 1.75 miles ( 2.8 km)
7 kW (AC): ~3.5 miles (5.6 km)
11 kW (AC): ~ 5.5 miles (8.8 km)
60 kW (DC): approximately 30 miles (48 km)
120 kW (DC): 60 miles (96 km)
240 kW (DC): around 120 miles (193 km)
So, these are just estimates, and the all-electrics range can vary depending on temperature, driving conditions, and battery degradation, etc.
Cost
Why is DC charging more expensive than AC charging? Well, there are multiple reasons for that. The cost of DC chargers is much higher than regular AC chargers; range from $5,000 to $50,000, whereas a commercial AC charger costs around $1,000 to $3,000 and a high-power commercial AC charger costs over $3,000. A second response is that DC chargers are more expensive to install and connect to the grid than AC chargers, due to their requiring dedicated infrastructure and equipment. The third reason is the fact that DC chargers charge more for the service — upwards of about $10 per 100km of charge. This is far more expensive than home charging costing $3/100KM on the average electricity plan.
Availability
AC charging is the most frequently used form of EV charging, suitable for most electric cars rising from AC chargers at home or in public charging stations in the general rule of thumb, connect to the original AC power grid. However, DC charging involves connecting to the power grid at high voltages and will need a specific infrastructure. Not all EVs have DC ports, and not all places have DC outlets.
Safety
Because of the increase in voltage and current involved in DC charging, the speed of charging may lead to increased risk of arc flash or overcharging, while overhead or electromagnetic interference can occur from the multiple conversion of AC and DC power in AC charging. Hence, both standard AC and DC charging have safety standards and requirements to isolate the vehicle and the charger from the power source.
EV charging levels
There are three different levels (1, 2 and 3) of EV chargers depending on how fast they charge. AC chargers can be Level 1 or 2, while DC chargers are Level 3.
Level 1 Chargers (AC): Level 1 EV chargers plug into a regular 120-volt socket and will provide 2–5 miles of range for each hour parked. Electric cars excel in overnight home charging and long-term parking.
Level 2 Chargers (AC)– These chargers run off a 240-volt circuit and provide 10–20 miles of range in an hour. These are good for personal home use and public charge stations, like at work or in a multi-unit dwelling.
Level 3 Chargers (DC): Level 3 EV chargers, or DC fast chargers (DCFC), utilize direct current (DC) and provide 60–80 miles of range in 20–30 minutes. They’re found along highways or elsewhere drivers may need a rapid charge.
Conclusion
AC vs. DC charging: What are the differences? AC charging is usually the most affordable option aside from home, apartment, and workplace based charging. DC charging is characterized by its rapid charge speeds, which is great for highway charging or when you feel the need for speed.
LUXMANENERGY can provide AC chargers of various power levels from 3.5 kW up to 22kW, as well as fast DC chargers from 30 to 120kW.
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