AC charging and DC charging are two fundamentally different technologies. The difference is not only speed, but above all cost and use case.

How it works, in one paragraph

An EV battery always runs on direct current. With AC charging, the car itself converts the alternating current from the grid into direct current. That happens through the on-board charger, with a power limit of usually 11 kW. With DC charging, the conversion happens in the charger itself, so much higher power can go straight to the battery.

AC charging, alternating currentUp to 22 kWConversion through the car’s on-board charger, usually up to 11 kW.Enough in 90% of cases
DC charging, direct currentFrom 50 kWConversion in the charger: 50 to 350 kW straight to the battery.

Cost difference

AC 11 kW€1,500 to €3,500Including installation
AC 22 kW€2,500 to €5,000Including installation
DC 50 kW€25,000 to €45,000Including installation
DC 150+ kW€60,000 to €120,000Including installation, almost always with a grid upgrade

When does DC make sense?

In three scenarios:

01

Short stops, many kilometres

Taxis, courier services, courtesy cars.

02

A customer-facing fast charging location

Hotels and restaurants along the motorway, retail using charging as a traffic driver.

03

Operational continuity

A logistics fleet where 30 minutes difference per charge is crucial for planning.

When is AC enough?

In 90% of business situations. An employee who arrives in the evening and leaves in the morning has 12 hours of downtime. More than enough for 11 kW AC to fully charge the car.

Investing in DC in that case is throwing capital away.

Torn between AC and DC for your site?Our technical advisor calculates the right mix based on your usage pattern.
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The in-between option: DC 25 to 30 kW

A new category of compact DC chargers at around €15,000 to €20,000 fills a niche: fast enough for flexible top-ups over lunch, affordable enough for SMEs. For companies that occasionally need to charge quickly, it is an interesting compromise. When 50 kW or more does make sense is covered in a fast charger on your business site: 50 kW or 200 kW.

AC by default, DC only with a reason

Choose DC only when there is a demonstrable operational or commercial reason. An installer who recommends DC by default without that analysis is selling you margin rather than a solution.

Whichever brand you choose, make sure it supports open standards. Why that matters: OCPP and interoperability.

InstallAC and DC, on the company site, at the employee’s home and on the road.
MeasureConsumption per user and per location, without estimates.
Split billingYour employee pays nothing upfront and submits no receipts. How split billing works
My.CertipowerConsumption and costs per user and per location, without Excel.
No obligation

AC, DC or a mix for your site?

We review your usage pattern and give you a concrete proposal.

  • Analysis of downtime and kilometres per vehicle
  • Check of the grid capacity on your site
  • A proposal with investment and savings in euros
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Prefer email? sales@certipower.be
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