What does AC (Alternating Current) mean?

Explanation

Alternating current is what comes out of every power outlet and what the electrical grid delivers. When you plug your EV into a home wallbox, a workplace charger, or a destination charger at a hotel, you are almost always charging on AC. The electricity flows into the car, where the onboard charger converts it to DC before it enters the battery, because batteries can only store direct current.

AC charging is typically slower because the onboard charger has a limited capacity, usually between 7 kW and 22 kW depending on the car. This makes AC perfect for overnight charging or long stops where speed does not matter. Most of your daily charging will likely be AC.

You can recognize AC chargers by their Type 2 connectors (in Europe) and the fact that they lack the thick, heavy cables you see on DC fast chargers. AC chargers are smaller, quieter, and much cheaper to install. The charger screen or app will usually indicate "AC" or show a power level under 22 kW.

Based on data from U.S. Department of Energy AFDC.

Where you'll see this

• On the charger screen
• In charging network apps
• In vehicle specifications

Common confusion

People often do not realize that AC and DC chargers look and work very differently. An AC charger sends electricity to the car's onboard charger for conversion. A DC charger bypasses the onboard charger entirely and sends power directly to the battery.

Example

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