What does Grid Connection mean?

Explanation

The grid connection is the electrical link between a charging location and the wider electricity network. Its capacity, measured in kW or kVA, sets an absolute limit on how much power all chargers at that site can draw simultaneously. No matter how many chargers are installed, they cannot collectively exceed the grid connection's capacity.

Grid connection capacity is one of the biggest challenges and costs in building charging infrastructure. A single 350 kW ultra-rapid charger needs as much power as a small factory. A site with ten such chargers needs a significant grid upgrade, including new cables, transformers, and possibly substations. These upgrades can cost hundreds of thousands of euros and take months or years to complete.

This is why load management and smart charging are so important. They allow more chargers to operate on a limited grid connection by intelligently distributing available power. As EV adoption grows, grid connection availability is becoming a key factor in where new charging stations can be built.

Learn more from OpenADR Alliance.

Where you'll see this

• In vehicle specifications

Common confusion

A charging site with 10 chargers rated at 150 kW each does not necessarily have a 1,500 kW grid connection. Load management often allows the site to operate on a smaller connection by sharing power dynamically.

Example

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