AC or DC? Which EV charger to choose for the customer?
The demand for electric vehicle charging stations is growing steadily. According to the latest data, there are already 85,000 plug-in cars on Polish roads, which means that their users will need chargers both in their garages and in public spaces. Charging infrastructure is also important, so in addition to the devices themselves, there is also a growing demand for qualified installers who will have the installation of EV charging stations in their portfolio of services.
These types of companies will have to meet the requirements of several groups of end customers. The first are those who will need EV charger installation in their private space, e.g. in their backyard or garage. This is quite a demanding group of customers, because by investing in a charging station in their home they will be counting on high quality and charging comfort, which the simplest chargers could not provide. The second group of customers are all kinds of businesses and institutions that want to set up charging stations with public charging in mind. These may include hotels, restaurants, office buildings, airports, shopping centres and companies with their own fleets or car parks. These types of customers will be looking for high charging speeds, payment processing solutions and a network of chargers.
How to select a charger for these specific customers. The first most important question is "AC or DC"?
What is the difference between the different types of EV chargers?
Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations can be equipped with different types of charging, including alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) charging. Here are the main differences between the two:
Type of current:
AC (alternating current): The stations supply alternating current, which is used in most buildings and households. An electrician equipped with direct current (DC) converters can convert AC to DC to charge batteries.
DC (direct current): The stations provide direct current that is directly used to charge the batteries of an electric vehicle. This means that there is no need to convert the current, which can reduce charging times.
Efficiency and charging time:
DC charging stations are much more efficient compared to AC stations. They allow vehicles to charge much faster, which is particularly beneficial for vehicles with large batteries and the need to charge quickly on the move. DC charging can deliver significantly higher charging powers.
Application:
AC stations are often used to charge electric vehicles in areas where vehicles are left for longer periods of time, such as homes, offices or public places where vehicles stand for long periods of time.
DC stations are mainly used on long-distance routes, motorways and fast-charging stations where there is a need to charge the battery quickly to continue the journey. They are also more common at truck charging stations.
Costs:
AC stations tend to be cheaper to purchase and install than stations, making them more common in areas where fast charging is not required.
What does a private customer need?
The above characteristics of the two types of chargers may indicate that for a private (domestic) customer, an AC charger is the best choice. The decisive factor may be the price, where DC stations start at several thousand PLN and go up to tens or even hundreds of thousands. In the case of AC chargers, for as little as a couple of thousand zloty, we get a charging station which can meet all the requirements of a user with 1 or maximum 2 electric vehicles in his garage. Despite the slower process of charging an electric car, the owner has much more time to charge the car (e.g. after returning from work or at night) than with large public DC chargers, because they stand in places where we spend less time than at home.
AC chargers also take up less space than DC ones, which can be crucial for garage owners. Wallbox chargers are the most popular type of such equipment. Let's find out what such a device looks like based on a product from Autel Energy.
The MaxiCharger Wallbox is a charging station available in powers of: 7.4kW | 11kW | 22kW with charging speeds up to 7X faster than a traditional AC home charger. It also has options that have been developed with the home user in mind such as power balancing, which helps avoid overloading the connection. Autel has also introduced solutions for the ever-increasing number of homes with photovoltaic installations by allowing the integration of charging with PV, so we can charge the car with surplus PV. In this way, the electric car is powered by 100% clean energy, also the charging process is comprehensive and ecological.
Commercial user
Do AC chargers also work well in public spaces? As much as possible. Of course, they do not have the capabilities of large DC charging points, but when your customer has, for example, a fleet of 3 electric cars or does not want to spend too much on a charger for the time being, in smaller spaces and with fewer cars this is sufficient. Autel's MaxiChargers also have options designed with such solutions in mind. Thanks to an easy-to-use app, the owner can manage and monitor charging stations (Who? How much used? How long?) and charge for charging.
For more demanding users, DC chargers are worth offering. They are great for large fleets where more vehicles need to be charged in a short space of time. We will show what this looks like using an Autel Energy station as an example.
Autel's DC chargers are all about speed. The fastest stations provide a charge of up to 240 kW. This enables up to 200 km of range to be generated in 10 minutes, which is particularly useful in places such as restaurants, shopping malls, motorways or petrol stations. It's also an even more efficient access and payment processing service, with support for PNC, APP, RFID cards, credit card and mobile payments. The company's DC stations also have the ability to charge two cars at the same time, so that we actually have 2 chargers at our disposal. In addition, the owner can not only make money from the charging itself, but also by displaying advertisements on the chargers. The largest Autel Energy stations have a 27-inch touchscreen on which advertising can be displayed. In busy areas, this can generate additional revenue for the owner.
Bottom line - which customer charging stations should you choose?
If you are an installer and want to start installing and offering EV charging stations, you should have devices in your portfolio tailored to different types of customers. In the residential segment, i.e. home stations, it is worth offering AC solutions with intelligent solutions that enhance the user experience. At a corporate customer, AC may not be enough, so you need to carefully consider the contractor's requirements and, if they need speed and want those using their chargers to have maximum charging comfort, then it is worth installing DC.
It is important to remember that a fast and efficient charging station increases the prestige of the public space in which it is located. Owners of electric cars are more likely to return to a hotel where they have encountered a high-quality charger, and even in the choice of location itself, the presence of such a device can be decisive.
You can find Autel Energy branded charging stations designed to meet different electromobility needs in the offer of the authorised distributor Greto Polska: LINK
Need a charger or want to find out how much charging stations cost? Call us or fill in the form:
+ 48 882 557 266