An introduction to DC fast charging
It's undeniable: EVs are here to stay. This accelerating shift to EVs means that your retail and hospitality guests will be looking to charge at your business.
Your organization can be an industry leader and develop a new source of revenue by providing a seamless charging and shopping experience to guests.
EV drivers have many charging options. DC fast charging lets drivers fuel up quickly on long trips or when their battery gets low. It's also useful for commercial vehicles with large batteries.
When EV drivers need a charge, DC fast charging can attract them to your business. Fast charging is a good fit for locations along highway corridors, including fueling and convenience stores, as well as locations like fast food restaurants and grocery stores.
Most power outlets use AC, or alternating current. Batteries use DC, or direct current, to charge.
AC charging delivers AC power to vehicles, which the EV converts to DC power using an on-board converter. This is one reason it's a little slower.
With DC fast charging, the conversion from AC to DC power happens in the charging station, not in the EV. This allows stations to supply DC power directly to the battery and charge vehicles much faster.
What does this mean for you? Guests will be looking to quickly “top off” their cars while they visit your location. They may not charge their battery to 100%. In fact, DC fast charging slows over time, so drivers will often move on before filling the battery. This is one way EV charging is different from gas fueling.
Providing a great fast charging experience is important. Part of this is making sure EV drivers know what to expect. The ChargePoint app and stations provide information about charger speed and current power to help drivers understand how long it may take to charge and how much it will cost.
Many factors affect charging speed, including the station power, the vehicle’s battery voltage and the battery and ambient temperature. You can learn more about these factors in our blog post.
Different fast chargers provide different amounts of power. Many DC fast chargers offer between 50 and 350 kW. Not all vehicles can use this much power, so faster charging is not always better.
The type of charging you choose depends on what type of vehicles you are serving and how long drivers stay at your location. You may want to offer a mix of AC and DC charging depending on what type of guests you serve. Read our complete guide to AC vs DC charging for all the details.
