What is AC Charging?

AC chargers – sometimes called wallboxes – are usually found in homes or offices and draw power from the building’s existing alternating-current (AC) electricity supply. The charging rates AC chargers can achieve are quite a lot lower than those found at DC fast chargers – usually around 7kW – although some designs can go as high as 22kW if you have access to a beefed-up three-phase AC power supply. 

Between the lower charging rates and the fact that your EV’s on-board charger will need to convert the incoming AC power into DC for the battery pack, AC chargers take a lot longer to charge an EV. Typical charge times can be 12 hours or longer for a full 100% charge from flat, but these rates will usually be plenty for EV owners that can charge at work, or overnight at home.

You can also charge an electric car using a normal household plug socket, but this is regarded as a last-resort option by many carmakers because it takes such a long time. EVs with medium-sized or large batteries can take 24 hours or more to fully charge from a three-pin plug. Make sure you don’t use an extension cable, as this could be unsafe.