Analysis of the Differences Between AC and DC Charging Piles

01. Input and Output Voltage Differences

AC Charging Piles

• Input Voltage: Supports single-phase AC 220V or three-phase AC 380V, suitable for household and general commercial power applications;
• Output Voltage: Maintains the same voltage as the input voltage, i.e., single-phase AC 220V or three-phase AC 380V, outputting AC power.

DC Charging Piles

• Input Voltage: Uniformly adopts the three-phase AC 380V industrial-grade power standard, ensuring stable high-power supply;
• Output Voltage: Outputs DC power after rectification and conversion, with a voltage range covering 200V~1000V, matching the battery voltage requirements of different vehicle models.

02. Power Specifications and Installation Scenarios

01 AC Charging Stations

• Power Characteristics: Overall power is relatively low, with mainstream specifications at 3.5kW and 7kW, and a few models reaching 11kW;
• Applicable Scenarios: Primarily for private home installations and internal park facilities, requiring no complex power capacity expansion, suitable for daily slow charging needs.

02 DC Charging Piles

• Power Characteristics: Significantly larger power output than AC charging piles, available in integrated and split structures. Core applications are in industrial parks and commercial operation sites.
• Power Classification: Divided into three main categories based on power range:

      1. Small DC Charging Piles (20kW~60kW): Affordable for home users, requiring no additional power capacity or dry-type transformer expansion. Excellent cost-performance ratio, suitable for industrial parks, hotels, scenic spots, shopping malls, government agencies, etc. For example, the cost of a single 20kW model is less than 10,000 RMB.

      2. Medium DC Charging Piles (120kW~240kW): 120kW integrated models are the mainstream in the market. Since most pure electric vehicles have battery capacities of less than 100 kWh (except for high-end models), a full charge can be achieved in one hour at a 1C charging rate, suitable for commercial operation and high-frequency charging scenarios.

      3. Large DC Charging Piles (360kW~960kW): Such as Huawei's "One Second One Kilometer" series, all adopting a split design of main unit + terminal. Standard terminal power... 250kW, with liquid-cooled terminal power reaching 480kW~960kW, focusing on ultra-fast charging scenarios.

03. Comparison of Charging Time

Charging time is directly related to the vehicle's battery capacity and the charging station's power. Specific details are as follows: Hybrid vehicles (battery capacity is mostly 20~60 kWh, mainstream 20~30 kWh)

• With a 7kW AC charging station: Taking a 21 kWh battery as an example, charging time = 21kWh ÷ 7kW = 3 hours, which can meet the full charge requirement;
• With a 20kW DC charging station: Full charge can be completed within 1 hour, a significant improvement in efficiency compared to AC charging stations.

Pure electric vehicles (battery capacity mostly 80-100 kWh):

• With a 7kW AC charging station: Taking a 98 kWh battery as an example, charging time = 98kWh ÷ 7kW = 14 hours. This slow charging characteristic is only suitable for long-term overnight charging.
• With a 20kW DC charging station: A full charge of an 80 kWh battery takes about 4 hours, balancing efficiency and cost.
• With a 120kW DC charging station: A full charge can be achieved in 1 hour, meeting the needs of rapid charging.

Therefore, pure electric vehicles are best suited to using higher-power DC charging stations.

04 Core Advantages of Small DC Charging Stations

1. Balanced Charging Efficiency: Significantly reduces charging time compared to AC charging stations. Hybrid vehicles can be fully charged in 1 hour, and pure electric vehicles in 4 hours, meeting the needs of most daily scenarios.

2. Controllable Installation Costs: Prices are within the reach of home users, requiring no additional power capacity expansion, lowering the installation threshold.

3. Wide Applicability: Small footprint, suitable for both private home use and large-scale deployment in parks and commercial locations, offering strong versatility.

05. Summary

Currently, over 80% of new energy vehicle models on the market have battery voltages ranging from 300V to 400V, with a maximum allowable charging current not exceeding 200A. Nexwayev specializes in electric vehicle charging equipment. Offering a diverse range of products such as AC/DC chargers, mobile and portable chargers, charging cords, and cables, its full range of charging products can precisely match the charging needs of different vehicle models:

Hybrid vehicles: Home AC charging piles (3.5kW/7kW) or small DC charging piles (20kW~60kW) are the optimal choice, balancing cost and charging efficiency;

Pure electric vehicles: Due to their larger battery capacity, it is recommended to prioritize commercially operated high-power DC charging piles (120kW and above) to meet rapid charging needs, or combine them with home small DC charging piles (20kW~60kW) for overnight slow charging.