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Charging with AC or DC: what is the difference?
The letters AC and DC on a charging map mostly tell you one thing: how fast you can charge.
What AC and DC mean
With AC charging, the charger inside the car converts the power, so speed depends as much on the car as on the charge point. Most cars charge on AC at 7 to 11 kW, some up to 22 kW.
DC chargers convert the power themselves and feed it straight to the battery. Their power starts at about 50 kW and goes above 300 kW at the fastest sites.
How long charging takes
Divide the energy you need by the power you actually get. Adding 40 kWh takes about four hours at 10 kW and about 25 minutes at 100 kW.
The real speed is lower than the charge point's rating: the car limits it, and DC charging slows down as the battery fills, especially above 80 per cent.
What to choose
Choose AC where the car will stand for a few hours, such as at home, at work or at a hotel. Choose DC on the road, when you want to carry on after a short stop. On a long trip, charging to about 80 per cent is usually faster than waiting for the last 20.