AC vs DC Charging Calculator
The same battery, two very different charging worlds. Compare AC home charging against DC fast charging — time, cost, range and battery impact.
Home wallbox: 3.7-11 kW.
Fast chargers: 50-350 kW.
AC 10-80% time
DC 10-80% time
AC cost / 100 km
DC cost / 100 km
Time to add 200 km
Which should you use?
- AC for daily — cheapest, gentlest on the battery, overnight is free time.
- DC for road trips — 15-40 min stops add hundreds of km.
- Skip DC above 80% — slow taper, high cost, marginal benefit.
- Match power to the car — a 50 kW car won't charge faster on a 350 kW station.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AC and DC charging?
AC charging (home wallbox, destination chargers) converts power inside the car and is limited by the onboard charger to 7-22 kW. DC fast charging converts power outside the car and feeds the battery directly at 50-350 kW.
Is AC or DC charging better for the battery?
AC charging is gentler and slightly better for long-term battery health because it produces less heat. DC fast charging is fine for road trips — modern EVs manage battery temperature — but AC at home should be your daily default.
How much faster is DC charging than AC?
A 150 kW DC charger is roughly 20x faster than a 7 kW wallbox. A 60 kWh battery goes 10-80% in ~25 minutes on DC versus ~6 hours on a home wallbox.
Why is DC charging more expensive?
DC stations cost 10-100x more to install and maintain than AC chargers, and demand high power from the grid. That infrastructure cost is passed to drivers as higher per-kWh prices.