AC, DC Chargers: Their EV Charging Capacities
Don’t let buzzwords dismay you; you don’t have to be an electrician to understand the basics of EV charging.
In this blog post, we compare AC EV Charging and DC EV charging.
Private use vs. public use
Home and offices are the most common places to recharge batteries for most EV drivers. While they are convenient and allow for long(er) charging sessions, they aren’t the most effective setups. Here’s why.
The technical explanation
Charging speed isn’t only reliant on the charging station. It also depends on the electric capacity of the infrastructure it’s attached to.
As an example, most private EV charging stations can deliver from 11 to 22 kW (assuming the presence of a main fuse with a rating of 3 x 32 A, or amps, for the latter). That said, it is still very common to see 1.7kW / 1 x 8 A and 3.7kW / 1x 16A chargers installed.
It’s important to note that the electrical supply will always be measured in amps (amperage) and not in voltage. The higher the amps, the more electrical load a building can handle.
Considering that there are essentially 4 charging speeds, 22 kW falls in the lower tier:
- Slow charging (AC, 3-7 kW)
- Medium charging (AC, 11-22 kW)
- Fast charging (AC, 43 kW and ( CCS. 50 kW)
- Ultra fast charging (CCS, 100 kW)
What’s more, many residential buildings currently have main fuses smaller than 32 A, so it’s essential to keep this in mind when estimating at-home charging speeds and charging times.
To make a long story short, most residential charging devices rely on AC.
It’s certainly possible to upgrade a residence’s charging capabilities, but this will require the help of a skilled electrician and is not exactly cost-effective. Fortunately, it’s possible to account for amp limitations by restricting the maximum power of a charging device using the Virta admin panel. This kind of control over your EV charging points is essential to prevent dangers such as over-charging, under-charging, circuit damage, or even fire.
Different usage and capacities
EV drivers are not restricted to their private at-home charging stations and an ever growing number of public charging stations are also readily available.
Now, EV drivers will find that — although they are less convenient in that they involve a trip — public charging stations are capable of much quicker charging speeds. The reason for this is that they are meant for different usages.
When plugged at home or at the office, EVs are usually charged for many hours, and charging speed isn’t necessarily an issue. On the other hand, EV drivers expect public charging stations to charge their batteries quickly.
There are also fundamental differences between AC and DC chargers. Differences that we’ll now address.
AC charging vs. DC charging: How they differ?
What AC chargers do
Most private EV charging set-ups use AC chargers (AC stands for Alternative Current ). All power used to charge an EV comes out as AC, but it needs to be in DC format before it can be of any use to a vehicle. In AC EV charging, a car does the job of converting this AC power into DC. That’s why it takes longer, and also why it tends to be more economical.
All electric cars can convert AC power into DC. This is because they have a built-in onboard charger that turns this AC into DC power before transmitting it to the car battery. However, every onboard charger has a maximum capacity depending on the car, which can transfer electricity to the battery with limited power.
Here are some other facts about AC chargers:
- Most outlets that you interact with on a day-to-day use AC power.
- AC charging is often a slower charging method compared to DC.
- AC chargers are ideal for charging a vehicle overnight.
- AC chargers are much smaller than DC charging stations, which makes them suitable for office, or home use.
- AC chargers are more affordable than DC chargers.
What DC chargers do
DC EV charging (which stands for Direct Current ) does not need to be converted into AC by the vehicle. Instead, it is capable of supplying the car with DC power from the get-go. As you can imagine, because this kind of charging cuts out a step, it can charge an electric vehicle much faster.
Rapid chargers pull off their charging speeds through the use of types of DC power. Some of the fastest DC chargers can provide a fully charged vehicle in an hour or even less. The counterpart for this performance gain is that DC chargers require more space and are pricier than AC chargers.
In short, DC charging can be characterised by the following:
- Ideal EV charging for shortstops.
- DC chargers are costly to install and relatively bulky, so they’re most often seen in mall parking lots, residential apartment complexes, offices, and other commercial areas.
- We count three different types of DC fast-charging stations: the CCS connector (popular in Europe and North America), the CHAdeMo connector (popular in Europe and Japan), and the Tesla connector.
- They require a lot of space and are a lot pricier than AC chargers.
What EVs and PHEVs can do
Taking the above into account, it’s important to remember that charging metrics and capabilities are always rough estimates and not a given.
For one thing, charging speed will also greatly depend on the capabilities of the vehicle itself. This is because every electric car will have a different acceptance rate—if a car has an acceptance rate that is less than the supply of a charger, the car will only charge to the limit of its acceptance rate.
Choose a partner that can bring you the best of EV charging
The charging capabilities outlined above are pretty impressive, but the electric vehicle world is just getting started. Future cars will be able to charge with higher power and have bigger batteries. Charging points installed today should serve all users and be future-proof. When looking for an EV charger installer. make sure that they provide Smart charging solutions that can adapt to future trends.
Ac ev charger
Report Format: PDF | Latest Update: Mar, 2023 | Published Date: Feb, 2023 | Report ID: FBI107154 | Status : Published
The global electric vehicle AC charger market size was valued at USD 3.68 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from USD 4.37 billion in 2022 to USD 33.57 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 33.82% during the forecast period. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with electric vehicle AC charger experiencing higher-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a growth of 47.44% in 2020 as compared to 2019.
AC charging is the most commonly used method for powering up electric vehicles; therefore, as automotive electrification continues across emerging countries worldwide, the demand for AC chargers will significantly rise during the forecast period. Most of the charging stations that are installed worldwide offer AC charging. However, the power provided by the grid is available in the form of AC, whereas the power stored in a battery is in the form of DC. Therefore, to utilize the AC charging stations onboard, electric vehicle chargers are required that can first convert AC to DC and then feed it into the car’s battery.
over, AC chargers are compact in size compared to DC charging stations; therefore, they are highly preferred for offices and residential use. Further, the rising demand for convenient charging of electric vehicles among the global populace is anticipated to surge the demand for AC charger for EVs in the near future. Additionally, AC chargers are more affordable compared to their counterpart, DC. Hence, increasing penetration of electric vehicle AC charger in price-sensitive markets such as India will likely boost the growth of the global market in the coming years.
COVID-19 IMPACT
Government Implementation of Schemes and Subsidies Drives the Market Growth.
The COVID-19 pandemic disturbed the global supply chains, and the electric vehicle charger industry has been heavily impacted. The COVID-19 crisis negatively impacted all indices, but recovery speed varied. Around 16.5 million electric cars existed on the road in 2021, triple the amount in 2018. Around 6.6 million electric vehicles were sold in 2021, around double the sales in 2020. This led to global EVs accounting for approximately 10% of car sales in 2021, four times the share in 2019.
Several countries imposed complete lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. EV charging service providers are already reporting falls of nearly 80% in the utilization of operational chargers. The AC charging infrastructure contains different semiconductor components, and most of these components are produced in China and other countries of Asia Pacific, which were severely influenced during the pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the market faced strong fluctuation in raw materials due to disruption in the supply chain and management. Due to high raw materials prices, companies could not provide affordable AC electric vehicle charging solutions, which decreased the manufacturing and sales of AC charger products.
In the U.K., Lubricity and Pod Point had to stop their installation of EV charging stations due to government orders. The subsidies provided by the government to adopt electric vehicles fueled market growth. As a result, people were encouraged to switch to electric vehicles. With proper EV charging infrastructure, the electric vehicle segment makes sustainable development in the country and economy. This surged the demand for AC chargers for people owning electric vehicles for home charging, thus leading to market growth.
LATEST TRENDS
Rising Adoption of Residential Charging Stations is the Ongoing Trend in the Market
The increasing adoption of residential electric vehicle charging stations worldwide is one of the ongoing trends in the market. Residential charging stations offer convenience to consumers to charge their electric vehicles at the comfort of their homes. Therefore, currently, the majority of the populace prefers to install home charging stations. For instance, in 2020, nearly 60% of the battery electric vehicles charged across Europe utilized home charging stations for charging. The share is anticipated to grow in the coming years. over, due to the growing popularity of residential electric vehicle charging stations among the populace, various leading players started offering home charging points to consumers.
In Europe, more than 100 companies offer home EV chargers. Whereas in the U.S., more than 50 such companies offer home charging stations. Furthermore, various populace installed home charging stations after the pandemic due to rising health concerns and to avoid unnecessary social contact. Residential charging stations provide AC charging, further surging the demand for AC chargers. Hence, diversifying product range for home charging stations offered by leading companies and rising EV sales and consumer preference for home charging stations are anticipated to drive the market growth in the coming years.
DRIVING FACTORS
Rising Electric Vehicle Sales and EV Penetration Across the Globe to Drive Market Growth
Rising electric vehicle sales worldwide is one of the major drivers of market growth. The global automotive industry has been going through once in a century of evolution. In the past decade, electric vehicle sales witnessed a significant boost due to increasing demand for emission-free vehicles, stringent government regulations for automotive emission control, incentives, and tax benefits that governments worldwide offer to accelerate electrification. Therefore, increasing demand for electric vehicle chargers owing to Rapid automotive electrification worldwide is anticipated to drive the electric vehicle AC charger market growth over the forecast period.
According to the International Energy Agency 2021, global electric vehicle sales doubled in the year 2021 compared to 2020. In 2021, nearly 10% of the total cars sold worldwide were electric, reaching a new record of 6.6 million units. over, factors such as increasing fossil fuel prices, rising environmental concerns among the populace, and declining electric vehicle battery have also fueled the market growth.
For instance, according to the Bloomberg NEF, EV battery costs have been reduced by around 85% over the last decade. In 2010, the average cost per kWh was USD 1,200; in 2020, the cost declined to nearly USD 140/kWh. Therefore, the overall price of electric vehicles also dropped with the declining trend of battery costs, further fueling the demand for AC electric vehicle chargers worldwide. Furthermore, increasing consumer spending on EVs is also influencing the leading automakers to diversify their EV product portfolio and convert their fleets to electric, further influencing EV sales and surging the demand for AC EV chargers globally.
Increasing Government Focus on Strengthening the Charging Service Network to Propel Market Development
Increasing government FOCUS on strengthening electric vehicle charging service networks and charging infrastructure is anticipated to drive market growth over the forecast period. Governments worldwide are funding significantly to strengthen the EV charging infrastructure. For instance, in February 2022, the U.S. government announced its plan to invest USD 5 billion to build an estimated number of electric vehicle charging stations and services over the next five years.
Similarly, in March 2022, the U.K. government announced its plan to support the U.K. market to reach nearly 300,000 public EV charge points by 2030. The government plans to establish an EV charging points network equivalent to about five times the number of fuel pumps available on the roads of the U.K. Emerging economies such as China, India, and several others are also highly focused on strengthening the EV charging service network to hasten the adoption of electric vehicles in respective regions to fight climate change and reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, further propelling the market growth.
RESTRAINING FACTORS
Slow Charging Speed of AC Chargers May Restraint Market Growth
Most of the charging stations available in the market provide AC charging. However, AC charging offers a charging speed of nearly 22kW based on the vehicle and power available to the charging infrastructure. However, DC chargers offer fast charging compared to AC chargers. The standard power of a fast DC charging station is 50kW, which is more than twice compared to an AC charging station. over, ultra-fast DC charging stations offer a power of up to 150kW. Tesla has already developed super-ultra-mega-fast DC charging stations with high power output of 250kW. Therefore, the inclining preference of the populace for fast charging of electric vehicles in high-traffic congestion areas is estimated to hamper the market growth over the projection period.
SEGMENTATION
By End-user Analysis
Easy Accessibility and Installations of EV Chargers to Drive Residential Segment Growth
Based on end-user, the market is segmented into residential charging and commercial charging.
Residential charging segment is estimated to be the largest segment in the year 2021. The growth is attributed to the increasing adoption of AC chargers in residential areas. In January 2022, ElectiVa signed an agreement with local urban bodies for installing and operating 100 electric vehicle charging stations in Delhi. The contract covers key locations in the city such as Green Park, Hauz Khas, Saket, defense colony, South Ex, Lajpat Nagar, RK Puram, and Vasant Vihar, among other commercial areas.
The commercial charging segment is the fastest-growing segment in 2021 and is projected to grow at a certain CAGR during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to rising charging stations by governments driving the market growth during the forecast period. In November 2021, the Japanese government announced that the government is providing a total of USD 328 million for e-mobility in a supplementary budget for 2021. Most of the sum flows into purchase premiums for vehicles and the rest into charging and hydrogen infrastructure. The government in Tokyo has announced expanding the network of public EV charging points from the current 30,000 to 150,000 by 2030.
By Vehicle Type Analysis
Rising Adoption of Electric Vehicles to Drive the BEV Segment
Based on vehicle type, the market is split into BEV and PHEV.
The Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) segment accounted for the fastest-growing segment in 2021. Increasing plug-in electric vehicle sales is driving segment growth. For instance, there were nearly 9,80,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales in 2020, and the same is expected to be 1900,000 in 2029, which will increase the adoption of AC charger for EVs, thus propelling the market growth.
By Product Analysis
Growing Adoption and Installation of Charging Stations to Propel the Standard Charger Segment Growth
Based on product, the market is split into standard charger and fast charger.
The standard charger segment is estimated to be a major segment of electric vehicle AC charger in 2021. The growth is ascribed to the existence of level 1 2 charging infrastructures in prominent countries, and vehicle sales are creating demand for 3-22kW of power capacity, further propelling the demand for AC standard chargers.
The fast charger segment was estimated to be the fastest-growing segment in 2021 and is projected to grow significantly during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to increasing charging infrastructure worldwide. The growth of fast chargers has been attributed to increasing charging points worldwide; for instance, in 2020, publicly available fast chargers registered at around 350,000 and increased by around 550,000 charging points in 2021. This development is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period 2022-2029.
REGIONAL INSIGHTS
Asia Pacific dominated the electric vehicle AC charger market share in 2021. The surge in the adoption of electric vehicle charging stations, such as in China, is driving the market growth. The government in China is highly focused on improving the charging infrastructure in the region. For instance, in August 2022, China’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced increased charging stations along the country’s highways. The Ministry assumes the new facilities must have the capacity to serve 20 million new energy vehicles by 2024. The government is highly focused on green mobility adoption. Highways connecting provinces will provide charging services by the end of 2023, with routes connecting rural roads covered by 2025, thus driving the Asia Pacific EV charging station market in the region.
In Europe, an increase in the demand for charging stations is driving the market growth. The local bodies of Europe and government initiatives FOCUS on the provision of public charging stations across the regions and the adoption of green energy and green vehicles. This drives the market in the region. over, companies dominating in the region are focused on developing efficient products to deliver fast charging solutions for EV users. For instance, in July 2022, Bosch launched its two latest technology-driven electric vehicle chargers. The two electric vehicle chargers are EV 300 Level 2 Charging Station and EV 3000 DC Fast Charger. The EV 300 Level 2 Charging Station is a compact charger that can be used for outdoor and indoor applications. It provides four times faster charging than the standard plug outlet. The EV 3000 DC Fast Charger is four times faster than the Level 2 charging station. Both electric vehicle chargers can be used for home applications and commercial use.
North America will witness a decent growth in the electric vehicle AC charger market. The region’s major electric vehicle adoption and demand for home charging solutions propel the market. Companies are providing charging solutions for homes and buildings with efficient AC chargers for the residents to charge their vehicles within the building premises or garages of their houses. For instance, in September 2022, Blink Charging Co. signed a collaboration with Veris Residential. In the collaboration, Blink will deploy its 24 EV charging ports at Veris Residential’s newly-built, sustainability-focused, luxury apartment high-rise Haus25, located at 25 Christopher Columbus Drive in Jersey City. At Haus25, Blink installed 12 IQ 200 dual chargers with 24 charging ports for the residents and visitors of the property.
KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS
Focus on the Development of AC Charging Technologies to Drive the Competition
The market is vastly fragmented and is led by various global market players operating in this industry. The companies FOCUS on expanding their product range to cover a more extensive EV customer base. Additionally, these leading players are targeting Europe to expand their business due to the increasing FOCUS on green energy adoption in the regions ever since the pandemic. Besides, companies are also focused on technological developments to offer additional features through their EV chargers, such as compact-designed AC chargers, fast charging ac chargers, portable ac chargers, and others, which are driving the competition in the market.
With Increasing Electric Vehicle AC Charger, Schneider Electric is One of the Leading Players in the Market
Schneider Electric is a leading global integrated process and energy technology-driven company. The company provides end-point-to-Cloud integration connecting products, controls, software, and services. The company provides a wide range of electric vehicle charging products compatible with every field of service. The company offers AC charging products such as EV Link Home, EV Link Pro AC, and others to achieve its sustainability and efficiency goals. In 2021 the company generated revenue of USD 28.90 billion. Whereas in 2020, the revenue was USD 25.20 billion. Eugene Schneider and Adolphe Schneider established Schneider Electric in 1836 in Le Creusot, France. The company has its headquarters located in Rueil-Malmaison, France.
LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:
- Siemens AG (Germany)
- Blink Charging Co. (U.S.)
- ABB (Switzerland)
- ChargePoint Inc. (U.S.)
- Schneider Electric (France)
- Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany)
- Eaton (Ireland)
- EVBox (Netherlands)
- Wallbox Inc. (Spain)
- EO Charging (England)
REPORT COVERAGE
The market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, product types, end-users, design, and technology. Besides this, the report offers insights into the AC charger for EVs market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors above, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.
Report Scope Segmentation
Study Period
AC vs DC EV Charging: What’s the Difference?
Electric vehicles continue to pave the way for the future of automobiles. As we move towards a greener future, more and more people are beginning to use electric vehicles instead of traditional alternatives that can be harmful to the environment.
As most people already know, electric vehicles don’t require gas and are powered by electricity. But how are these vehicles charged and what’s the difference between AC and DC electric vehicle charging? Here’s what you need to know.
Charging an Electric Vehicle
When it comes to charging an electric vehicle, there are different methods that can be deployed. With various types of connectors and charging methods, it may seem daunting trying to wrap your head around this modern advancement. But we’re here to help you understand AC vs DC EV charging in terms you can understand.
Before charging an electric vehicle, it’s important to understand where you’re looking to charge your car and how fast you’re looking to charge it. These two elements are interconnected and are usually dictated by the type of electric vehicle you own as well as its battery capacity.
AC charging, otherwise known as Alternating Current comes from the electricity grid. Despite this, electric vehicles can only accept DC (direct current) charge.
AC power is usually converted before charging either inside or outside of the electric vehicle. This is usually done at home or at a public charging station.
DC power, on the other hand, charges more quickly than AC chargers due to their overall size. This is considered to be the fastest way to charge an electric vehicle at a public charging station. Depending on the make and model of your car, this usually allows you to top up your battery from 20 to 80% in roughly 30 minutes!
Should I Get an AC or DC Charging Station at Home?
While there are public charging stations available to charge an electric vehicle, it’s still a good idea to have a charger installed at home to ensure you’re never left without power when trying to get somewhere. You can choose to install either an AC or DC charger.
While you can install a DC charger at home, it’s usually recommended to opt for an AC charger instead. This is because DC chargers are much more expensive than AC chargers and take up lots of space. DC chargers are also more complex in creation, requiring expensive spare parts should anything go wrong. DC charging is also not recommended for consistent use.
Get in Touch
If you’re looking to install an electric vehicle charging station at home, look no further than Bates Electric. Our team of experts will be able to advise on the type of EV charger that’s most suitable for your needs and offer various installation packages to help you charge your car at home. Get in touch to find out more!
The different types of EV chargers explained
The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is accelerating across Europe. And with this, the need for a proper EV charging infrastructure is rising. Within such an infrastructure, different types of EV chargers should be available. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about EV chargers.
First, we’ll explain the difference between AC DC chargers. Then we will show you what the different types of charging possibilities there are as well as the types of plugs across the globe. And finally, we will look into two chargers specifically designed for electric fleet or electric heavy transport.
What are AC chargers DC chargers?
In short, the difference lies in the way an electric vehicle is charged. EVs can be charged in two ways: AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current). The power available from the grid is AC. However, batteries can only store electricity with a direct current. So, to store power into the EV’s battery, a converter needs to change the electricity from AC to DC.
AC chargers are usually slower chargers, charging the battery at a slower, but steadier pace. DC chargers are most commonly fast chargers, charging the battery from 0% to 80% at a Rapid pace. This difference has to do with where the conversion from AC to DC takes place.
When an EV is charged with an AC charger, this conversion happens inside the vehicle. This allows for a simpler AC Charger or a Wallbox. However, the power is limited due to the size of the converter integrated in the car. With DC charging, the conversion takes place within the charger itself. DC chargers are therefore bigger and more expensive, but it comes with the benefit that far more power can be delivered to the vehicle. In the image below, this difference is visually shown.
Next to the place of conversion and the power delivered, there are more differences between AC and DC chargers. For example, DC chargers obtain more information from the battery than AC chargers and can provide a better estimation of the remaining time of charging.
When EVs were just introduced to the market, there was an exceptionally large lack of DC chargers. Charging at home (with a slow-paced AC charger) was most common. EV producers, therefore, provided bigger on-board chargers (or converters) inside the EV.
For example, Renault Zoe used to charge up to 22, and even 44kW, without a DC charging capability. With the relatively small size of the battery of this early time, this solution was quite suitable.
The market has now shifted towards larger battery cars with more autonomy, requiring faster charging. Resulting in an increase in public DC chargers. With this trend, most EV cars now include both AC as well as DC charging capabilities. AC on-board chargers are now getting smaller and more cost-effective, usually in the range of 7kW or 11kW, resulting in lower purchasing of EVs.
The different EV Charging possibilities
As explained, the speed of charging depends on the electric current (AC or DC). But other factors also influence the speed of charging, such as the power of the charger and the power an EV can handle. This means if you charge your EV with a charger of 100 kW and your vehicle can only handle 50 kW, the EV will charge at 50 kW.
The image below gives an overview of the different EV charging possibilities and an indication of the charging speed per type.
Domestic or workplace chargers are slower chargers. Slow charging is most commonly used for places where EV drivers can charge their car overnight or for about 8 hours or more. This could be at home, at the office or for example at a hotel. These chargers are almost always AC chargers.
Public chargers fully charge a vehicle in a few hours and are therefore typically placed at destinations where drivers tend to park their car for several hours. Such as public parking places, shopping centres, and restaurants. Public chargers are usually AC chargers as well, but it’s not uncommon to mix AC chargers with DC chargers in these places.
Fast chargers can be used in many different situations. They are, just like public chargers, typically installed at places such as shopping centres and restaurants. Car dealerships also often provide visitors with an option of fast charging. Fast chargers are also seen at service stations, which is ideal for EV drivers with smaller batteries.
Ultra-fast chargers and High-Power-Chargers (HPC’s) are the quickest way to charge an EV and are therefore perfect for service stations next to busy highways or close to main roads, ensuring EV drivers can complete their long journeys. These chargers are exclusively DC chargers and can charge an electric vehicle rapidly from 0% to 80%, typically in 20 to 40 min. Next to installations at existing service stations, these chargers are also used to create new Fast Charging Hubs.
Fast chargers and HPC’s are much more complex to install. They require a full solution installation, including advanced study of the site upfront, custom electricity supply from the distribution network operator, installation, and maintenance. TSG Charge is an expert in this field and helps you with the installation and future maintenance of fast chargers and HPC chargers. Read more about TSG Charge.
The different types of plugs across the globe
With the introduction of EVs, different type EV plugs were created, depending on electrical network characteristics as well as the current used (AC / DC). This is why there are many variations of plugs across the globe. In the image below, you find the EV charger plugs per region of the world.
In Europe, the official standards approved by the European Commission is Type 2 plug for AC charging and CCS 2 for DC charging. CHAdeMO car plugs are also still found in Europe, but will be reduced over time as most EV manufacturers are moving to CCS European Standard.
EV chargers for commercial fleet or heavy industry
EVs used in a commercial fleet are either passenger cars (such as a taxi fleet) or e-Vans (for last mile delivery). Passenger cars or e-Vans are usually charged at their depot centres with dedicated parking spaces, similar to chargers found in public parkings. Usually, such depot centres install a combination between AC chargers and faster DC chargers, with the majority being AC chargers.
However, fleet charging compared to public charging requires a higher number of chargers to be installed, which has a significant impact on the complexity of installation. Such as the sizing of the local LV electrical network as well as the connection to the local electrical Distribution Network Operator.
Often the addition of a new point of connection, of a transformer or even of an electric substation may be necessary. As an expert in the field, TSG can advise you in defining the right solution for your fleet.
For heavy vehicles, such as e-buses or e-Trucks, DC Ultrafast chargers are recommended. Next to that, there are two specific types of chargers that can be very useful: pantograph chargers and mobile chargers.
Pantograph chargers
A pantograph charger is a powerful charger (up to 450kW) that connects with the vehicle on top of its ceiling. The biggest advantage of a charger like this is that it works more efficiently. The e-Bus or e-Truck is placed beneath the charger and the connection is made automatically with the charger above. The driver saves time as he does not have to get out of the vehicle to connect the charger.
Mobile chargers
A mobile EV charger can be compared to a power bank for your mobile phone. Mobile EV chargers are chargers you can take with you on transport to charge your vehicle at any time, to ensure long journeys can always be completed. Mobile chargers are quite new and are used in the heavy transportation industry in combination with a dedicated DC charging infrastructure.
Add EV chargers to your site with the help of TSG
Find out what we can do for you!
With over 50 years of experience, we are the European leader in responsible mobility solutions, in which E-mobility plays a huge role. Our TSG Charge team builds E-mobility solutions that fit the needs of your business as well as your customers.
We take care of the installation project from A to Z. We plan, design, build, deploy, and commission the entire EV charging infrastructure. Furthermore, our skilled technicians are always just around the corner to perform maintenance, corrective as well as preventive.
Our Charge experts advise you on which type of chargers fits your business the best, how many chargers you can install on your site, on what location chargers are best placed, and which specific local requirements or regulations you should take into account. Creating the best e-mobility experience, and together with our customers, enabling a more sustainable world.