As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common in corporate fleets, businesses are looking more closely at EV charging infrastructure. One crucial decision is whether to use DC (direct current) or AC (alternating current) charging. While each technology has a place, for most commercial use cases, one is unquestionably the more sensible, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly option.
Here, the practical differences between AC and DC charging are examined, as well as the factors that make AC the preferred choice for most businesses.
AC charging uses the same kind of electricity that homes and businesses use every day. When you plug an electric vehicle (EV) into an AC charger, the electricity goes into the car’s onboard charger, which changes the AC to DC so that the battery can be charged.
This method usually takes longer, but it’s also cheaper, more reliable, and easier to add to existing infrastructure.
DC Charging, on the other hand, converts electricity from AC to DC outside the vehicle, in the charging station itself. The direct current is then sent straight to the battery, skipping the car’s built-in charger.
This means that charging times are much shorter, sometimes 80% in 20–30 minutes. The tradeoff consists of high installation costs, high power usage and building the necessary infrastructure.
One of the most common myths about EV charging is that faster charging is always better. DC charging is often sold as a high-end solution because it can charge a car to 80% in about 20 to 30 minutes. In real life, though, this speed is rarely needed and is often too much for EV use. This is especially true in corporate fleets.
Statistics show that cars are parked about 95% of the time. This is especially true for business cars, which employees park when they get to work and leave alone for six to nine hours. This long period of inactivity is the perfect time to charge cars slowly and effectively, without needing quick, high-power DC infrastructure.
There is no need to rush the charging process when a car is parked all day at work. An AC charger placed in the right spot can easily restore the energy used during a normal daily trip in this amount of time. For example, a 22 kW AC charger can fully charge most EVs in a few hours, which is well within the normal 8-hour workday.
Trying to charge a car in 20 minutes when it won’t be used for several more hours is a waste of time. In reality, it costs money, puts a strain on the grid, and wears out the car’s battery faster.
For businesses, AC charging offers a more practical and strategic solution:
Cost-Efficient: Lower installation and operating costs mean better long-term savings.
With AC charging, you get a solution that fits the actual behavior of your fleet, rather than hypothetical scenarios where every car needs to be charged in under 30 minutes.
DC charging typically has its place:
But for daily business use, DC charging is overkill. It’s expensive, energy-intensive, and simply not necessary in 95% of situations.
At AmperaPark, we specialize in smart AC charging solutions that are designed for companies like yours. In addition to offering sustainability and shade, our solar carports have EV chargers that are based on real consumption patterns rather than inflated demand scenarios.
AmperaPark offers you the following advantages:
Want to know how AmperaPark can future-proof your workplace charging setup?
Contact us or explore our solar carports and smart charging systems today.
Are you also interested in a green upgrade of your parking lot?