Every electric vehicle can be charged two ways — with alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The type you use decides how fast your car charges, how much the equipment costs, and where it makes sense to install it. Get this right and you avoid both overspending on a home setup and under-powering a commercial site.
The one real difference between AC and DC
Your EV's battery stores DC electricity. The grid supplies AC electricity. So somewhere between the wall and the battery, AC must be converted to DC. The only real difference between the two charging types is where that conversion happens.
- AC charging: the charger sends AC to the car, and a small converter inside the car (the on-board charger) turns it into DC. That on-board converter is the bottleneck — it limits how fast an EV can charge on AC.
- DC charging: the conversion happens inside the charger — a large, powerful unit — which then sends DC straight to the battery, bypassing the car's small converter. That's why DC can charge so much faster.
Think of it like filling a bucket: AC charging pours through a thin straw built into the car; DC charging removes the straw and pours directly.
How EV charging actually works
When you plug in, the charger and the car “talk” before any power flows. They confirm the connector is locked, agree on a safe current, and monitor temperature the whole time. The battery management system (BMS) in your car is always in control — it will slow or stop charging to protect the battery, which is why you can't damage a modern EV simply by plugging into a fast charger.
In India, AC chargers commonly use a Type 2 connector, while DC fast chargers use CCS2 (and, on some models, older standards). Our full product range is built around these standards so it works with the EVs sold here today.
Charging speeds compared (kW & km/hour)
Charging power is measured in kilowatts (kW) — the more kW, the faster you charge. Here's a practical comparison of the charger classes we manufacture:
| Charger | Type | Typical power | Range added / hour* | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 kW smart socket | AC | 3.3 kW | ~15–20 km | Two-wheelers, overnight top-ups |
| AC 7.4 kW | AC | 7.4 kW | ~40 km | Home charging |
| AC 11 / 22 kW | AC | 11–22 kW | ~60–120 km | Workplaces, apartments |
| DC 20–40 kW | DC | 20–40 kW | ~120–240 km | Retail, fleets, business sites |
| DC 60–120 kW | DC | 60–120 kW | ~350–700 km | Highways, public networks |
*Approximate, for a typical passenger EV. Real speed depends on your car's maximum charging rate, battery level, and temperature.
AC charging: home, workplace & destinations
AC charging is slower but cheaper, smaller, and perfect wherever a vehicle is parked for hours. Because it doesn't need heavy power conversion hardware, an AC charger is compact and affordable enough to put in a garage, a parking bay, or along a row of office spots.
For most people, home charging with a 7.4 kW AC charger is ideal: plug in overnight, wake up to a full battery, and never queue at a public station. For offices, apartments, and depots, three-phase 11 kW and 22 kW units charge two to three times faster and can be load-balanced across many bays.
Key takeaways
- AC is best where cars sit for hours — homes, offices, malls, hotels.
- Your car's on-board charger caps AC speed, so a 22 kW charger won't help a car limited to 7.4 kW.
- AC hardware is far cheaper to buy and install than DC.
DC fast charging: highways & public sites
DC fast charging exists for one job: getting a driver back on the road quickly. By moving the heavy conversion into the charger, DC units from 20–40 kW and 60–120 kW can add hundreds of kilometres of range during a coffee break.
That speed comes at a cost: DC chargers need a strong three-phase supply, more expensive electronics, and cooling. They earn their keep at public charging sites and highway corridors where high throughput justifies the investment, and at commercial fleets that need quick turnaround. Pair them with an OCPP charger-management system to monitor uptime, set tariffs, and accept payments.
Which charger do you need?
Match the charger to how long the vehicle stays parked:
- Home / overnight: AC 7.4 kW — simple, safe, low-cost.
- Office / apartment / mall: AC 11 kW or 22 kW, ideally load-balanced.
- Retail, business, small fleet: DC 20–40 kW for quick top-ups.
- Highway / public network / large fleet: DC 60–120 kW.
Still unsure? Compare every model side by side on our product comparison, or tell us your use case and we'll recommend the right mix.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DC charging bad for the EV battery?
Occasional DC fast charging is safe — your car's BMS manages current and temperature. Relying on DC as your only charging method every day adds slightly more long-term wear than slow AC charging, so most owners charge on AC at home and use DC on the road.
Can I install a DC fast charger at home?
It's technically possible but rarely practical — DC units need a high-capacity three-phase supply and cost far more than AC. For homes, a 7.4 kW AC charger is almost always the right choice.
Do all EVs support DC fast charging?
Most modern EVs in India support DC via a CCS2 connector, but the maximum DC power varies by model. A charger can only charge as fast as the car allows, so check your EV's rated DC speed.