AC or DC chargers: which does your business need?

Choose AC for vehicles parked long enough to recharge and assess DC when turnaround time matters. Energy Saving Trust identifies 7 kW and 22 kW AC options for overnight depot charging [S1]. Check vehicle limits, simultaneous demand and whole installation cost before choosing. A faster nameplate alone does not establish your business case. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 16 October 2026

What is the difference between AC and DC chargers?

AC means alternating current; DC means direct current. An AC chargepoint uses the vehicle’s onboard equipment to convert electricity for its battery. DC equipment makes that conversion outside the vehicle and supplies the battery directly. Energy Saving Trust lists chargepoint speeds as separate AC and DC power ratings [S2], which is why vehicle AC acceptance and DC acceptance are different specifications.

A kilowatt (kW) measures power. A kilowatt hour (kWh) measures energy delivered over time. For an assumed constant 7 kW delivery over an assumed two hours, energy is 7 × 2 = 14 kWh, before losses. Do not confuse a charger’s power rating with the amount a driver buys.

Start with the energy required before departure. Then ask whether that energy can be supplied during the actual parking window. Read dwell time and charger speed alongside your vehicle schedule.

Is DC charging faster than AC for your business?

DC can bypass the onboard AC limit, but compare the power your vehicles can accept. Energy Saving Trust discusses 7 kW and 22 kW AC for overnight charging and highlights rapid charging for vehicles with little downtime [S1].

These are design prompts, not sector performance claims. An office might need a midday fleet top-up, while a depot might have enough overnight time for AC. Test the schedule rather than selecting equipment from your business label. Use charging curves to avoid treating a peak rate as a continuous rate.

What does AC versus DC charging cost and earn?

Request separate equipment, civils, cabling, connection, payment and maintenance prices. The following is an illustration, not a quote. Every commercial input is an assumption, not a market average or partner offer. The capital ranges are published UK installer figures checked on 17 October 2026: £1,400–£2,500 for a single 7 kW workplace charger with back-office software, and £15,000–£45,000 installed for 50 kW DC [S5], [S6]. They exclude the grid connection and most groundworks, so real capital is higher and real paybacks are longer.

Assume 365 operating days. Prices exclude VAT. Energy cost includes an assumed loss allowance. Software and maintenance include an assumed payment fee allowance. Exclude connection upgrades, rent, rates, insurance, financing, tax and replacement equipment: add actual figures before using this model.

Annual energy = sessions/day × kWh/session × 365. Sales = annual energy × driver price. Operating net income = annual energy × (driver price − energy cost) − annual software/maintenance.

With the lowest main supply upgrade in the same source added, £40,000 [S5], the 50 kW DC self funded payback at low / mid / high use becomes 23.6–36.4 / 5.5–8.5 / 3.1–4.8 years, against the equipment-only figures above. Use the network operator’s actual connection cost in place of the £40,000.

Fully funded income = sales × 10%; the operator pays energy and maintenance under this assumed contract. Part funded income = operating net × 60%, against half the capital. ROI = annual net ÷ host capital × 100; payback = host capital ÷ annual net. Rounded outputs use unrounded calculations.

The equal session counts are sensitivity tests, not predictions of equal demand. Faster charging does not create customers. See charger ROI and payback before choosing a larger connection.

Which funding model fits AC or DC charging?

A fully funded operator pays for, installs, owns and operates the equipment; you provide the site for a share or rent. Part funded means shared capital and a negotiated larger host share. Self funded means you invest and keep net income after costs. None of these labels establishes the lease length or the treatment of electricity.

Ask for the revenue-share base, tariff control, repair responsibilities, liability, parking restrictions and removal terms in writing. Check whether your share is before or after payment fees. Have your solicitor review access hours, redevelopment rights and exit costs. Compare fully funded charging with a purchase using identical demand assumptions.

Is there a business grant for electric chargers?

The Workplace Charging Scheme covers up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across an applicant’s sites. It runs until 31 March 2027 under the current guidance [S3]. Eligibility and approved equipment matter; do not assume any customer-facing installation qualifies.

Keep grant support outside your base calculation until eligibility is established. Read the Workplace Charging Scheme guide and check tax treatment with your accountant.

What should you check before ordering?

Ask your installer to confirm simultaneous demand, available supply, protection, cable routes and accessible parking. Request a smaller load-managed option alongside any upgrade proposal. Confirm who pays for a connection application and whether the installation still works within your opening hours.

Public operation adds obligations. DfT guidance requires a staffed helpline and sets payment, pricing and data rules; rapid-network reliability is measured across an operator’s network rather than promised for each unit [S4]. Use the public charging checklist and check legal obligations with your solicitor.

What should you do next?

Bring your vehicle list, arrival and departure times, parking plan and electricity bills to an initial discussion. You can get matched with an installer that covers your area and compare a specification grounded in your site schedule.

Piggy Pineapple Ltd operates this referral service. We refer enquiries to installer partners and may be paid a fee. Our owner holds shares in at least one partner. Before passing on details, we name the proposed partner and disclose whether our owner holds shares in it.