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ITGlossary · EV charging
AC Charging
Charging with alternating current, where the vehicle's on-board charger converts it to direct current to fill the battery.
Technical level:Basic
In AC charging the station, whether a wallbox or a public Type 2 station, controls and protects the circuit, while the conversion to direct current happens inside the car. That is why the real charging speed depends on three things: the power of the station, the capacity of the supply and the power of the vehicle's on-board charger.
Most charging at home and at work is AC charging, at 3.7 to 22 kW, and it stresses the battery less than frequent DC fast charging.
A common disappointment is plugging into a 22 kW station with a car that accepts only 11 kW on AC. The car will charge at 11 kW, whatever the station says.
Related terms
- On-board Charger (OBC)The converter inside an electric vehicle that turns the station's AC into DC and sets the maximum AC charging power.
- Battery Charging CurrentThe amount of current supplied to charge a battery, regulated by the UPS system.
- Charging Power (kW)How much energy flows into the battery per hour, which in AC charging depends on voltage, current and the number of phases.
- Wallbox (home wall charger)A wall-mounted EV charger that charges with AC from its own circuit in the panel and communicates with the vehicle for safe charging.
- EV Connector Type 2The standard AC charging connector for electric vehicles in Europe, also known as Mennekes.
- DC ChargingFast charging in which the station converts power to direct current and feeds it straight into the battery, typically at 50 to 350 kW.