Charging station in comparison: fast charging vs. slow charging

Jonas

June 11, 2024

There are two different types of charging stations. And therefore also two different ways to charge your electric car. Fast charging stations, where you charge DC, and slow charging stations, where you charge AC. More details about charging stations in this article.

DC – Fast charging

100 km in 5-10 minutes. Depending on the vehicle. That is a good rule of thumb. DC stands for “direct current” and means direct current. DC charging stations are often larger and actually always more powerful than AC charging stations. More about AC charging stations in a moment.

DC charging stations are often located at highway service stations or car parks or in places where people spend around 20-40 minutes, such as supermarkets or DIY stores. DC charging stations are technically more complex than AC charging stations, which is why they are usually larger and more expensive for operators to purchase.

So where exactly can I find fast charging stations? Often combined with several fast charging stations in one charging park. With ChargingTime, you can find the best charging parks directly on your route without any detours. Learn more

Here is a picture of a DC charging station from Alpitronic. These are among the most reliable fast charging stations.

DC charging station. Image from Alpitronic.

AC – Slow loading

100 km in 1 – 2 hours. This is quite a big difference to DC charging. AC stands for “alternating current”. This type of current is similar to the normal household socket. Most AC charging stations can deliver 22 kW (kilowatts). This is roughly equivalent to the power of 2000 cell phone chargers. Many cars can take 11 kW and some can take 22 kW for an extra charge.

AC charging station. Image from Mennekes.

Why should I charge slowly when I can also charge quickly?

Good question! DC charging stations are not yet everywhere in the city. Often in places where you only spend a short time. AC charging is often available in places where you spend longer periods of time. A wallbox for the home is also an AC charging station. In addition, most manufacturers recommend slow charging, as it is much better for battery life than fast charging.

AC charging stations are often found in parking garages or on the side of the road. There is often no cable at AC charging stations, so please remember your charging cable. This should have been included when you bought your car.