How Electric Vehicle Chargers Work
Electric vehicle chargers are at the heart of the transition to sustainable transport. The way we refuel our vehicles is changing dramatically. Instead of filling up with petrol or diesel, drivers now plug in to a power source that feeds electricity into the car’s battery. The process may look simple from the outside, but the technology inside both the charger and the car is far more complex. To understand it fully, it helps to look at the two main types of charging: AC and DC.
The Basics of Charging
When you plug an electric car into a charger, electricity flows from the grid into the vehicle’s battery. The battery itself stores energy in the form of direct current (DC), while most homes and businesses are supplied with alternating current (AC). This difference means that the current often needs to be converted before the battery can use it. Depending on the type of charger, this conversion takes place either inside the car or within the charger itself.
AC Charging
AC charging is the most familiar type for many drivers, as it is what powers most home chargers and many public points in car parks and workplaces. With this system, alternating current is delivered to the vehicle, and the car’s onboard charger takes care of converting it into DC so that it can be stored in the battery.
The speed of AC charging is heavily influenced by the size of the onboard charger. Some cars are equipped to accept higher rates than others, but even so, AC charging tends to be slower compared to DC. For most drivers, however, this is not a problem. Plugging in overnight at home means waking up each morning to a fully charged car, without needing to think about charging during the day.
One of the biggest advantages of AC charging is its affordability and convenience. Installing a wall box at home is relatively straightforward, and electricity costs are usually lower when charging is scheduled overnight. It also places less strain on the local power grid compared to high-powered charging stations. The main drawback is time. Charging a larger battery to full capacity with AC can take several hours, so it is best suited for times when the car is parked for long periods.
DC Charging
DC charging takes a different approach. Instead of passing alternating current to the car and letting the vehicle do the conversion, a DC charger converts the electricity within the unit itself and delivers direct current straight into the battery. By bypassing the car’s onboard charger, it allows energy to flow much more quickly, resulting in far shorter charging times.
These chargers are most often found along motorways, at service stations, or in busy public locations where drivers need a rapid boost of energy to continue their journey. Power levels vary from around 50 kW to well over 300 kW in the latest ultra-rapid chargers. In practice, this means that a modern electric car can add hundreds of miles of range in under half an hour. Although some DC chargers can be expensive, Tap Zap Go goes against the grain to offer an incredibly low cost for charging.
AC vs DC in Everyday Life
For most electric car owners, the choice is not one or the other, but both. Daily charging is handled quietly and conveniently through AC, often at home or at work, while DC charging is reserved for road trips and occasions when time is limited. The two systems complement each other, creating a flexible charging network that adapts to different needs.
Connectors and Compatibility
Alongside the question of AC and DC is the matter of connectors. In the UK, the Type 2 connector has become the standard for AC charging, offering compatibility across the vast majority of European vehicles. For DC charging, the Combined Charging System (CCS), like those we have at Tap Zap Go, is now the most widely adopted, supporting much higher power levels. Some older cars from Japanese manufacturers still use the CHAdeMO connector for DC charging, though this is gradually being replaced by CCS.
Charging Times
One of the most common questions about Electric Vehicle Chargers is how long it takes to charge a car. The answer depends on a mixture of factors: the size of the battery, the power of the charger, and the maximum charging rate the vehicle can handle. A 60 kWh battery might take eight or nine hours to fully charge on a 7 kW home charger, while the same battery could reach 80% on a 100 kW rapid charger in around half an hour. These figures highlight why AC and DC both have important roles to play.
Smarter Charging and the Future
The technology behind Electric Vehicle Chargers is evolving rapidly. Many home units now come with smart features that allow charging to be scheduled during cheaper off-peak hours. Some chargers also communicate with the grid, adjusting the rate of charge to help balance supply and demand.
Looking further ahead, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology has the potential to turn electric cars into mobile power stations. Instead of only drawing electricity, cars could return energy to the grid when demand is high, creating a more stable and resilient energy system. This would allow owners to not only fuel their journeys but also actively contribute to the wider energy network.
Safety and Reliability
With so much power involved, safety is a top priority. Modern chargers are fitted with multiple safeguards against overheating, overcharging, or electrical faults. Professional installation is essential for home systems, and regular software updates ensure that units remain secure and efficient. As the technology matures, reliability is improving too, with more robust designs and greater standardisation across manufacturers.
Summing Up
Electric vehicle chargers may appear simple to the driver, but behind the scenes they represent a blend of clever engineering and smart design. AC chargers provide a practical and cost-effective way to top up at home or work, while DC chargers deliver the speed needed for long-distance journeys. Together, they make electric driving convenient, flexible, and increasingly accessible.
As the charging network grows and technology continues to advance, these systems will become even more efficient, intelligent, and integrated into our daily lives. The rise of electric vehicle chargers is not just changing how we power our cars; it is helping to reshape the future of transport and energy as a whole.
