What do EV charging speeds mean for your business?

An electric vehicle charger’s kilowatt rating describes its maximum power, not a fixed charging time. Welsh Government guidance covers alternating-current charging up to 22 kW and direct-current charging up to 350 kW [S1]. Your choice should follow visitors’ parking time, vehicles and available electricity supply. Actual delivery can be lower than the label. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 16 October 2026

What do the different EV charging speeds mean?

An electric vehicle (EV) charger is described by its maximum power in kilowatts (kW). Energy delivered over time is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Think of the first as the delivery rate and the second as the amount added. The distinction matters when you compare equipment for your car park [S1], [S2].

Alternating current (AC) charging sends electricity to a converter inside the vehicle. Direct current (DC) charging uses conversion equipment outside the vehicle. The Welsh Government’s infrastructure standards set out that distinction and describe AC charging up to 22 kW and DC charging up to 350 kW [S1].

Do not choose using labels such as fast or rapid alone. Put the power rating, current type and available power per vehicle in your brief. Start with the AC versus DC guide if the technology is unfamiliar.

How do 7, 22, 50, 150 and 350 kW compare?

The table is a screening tool, not a specification for your site. The suggested applications are planning judgements based on the distinction between longer parking and short charging stops [S1], [S2].

These ratings describe equipment options, not the power every car receives. Energy Saving Trust explains that AC acceptance is limited by the vehicle and that 22 kW charging requires a three-phase electricity supply [S2]. That is a supply with three alternating electrical phases; ask your installer to establish what your site has.

A charger’s headline rating also needs a clear basis. Ask whether it applies to each outlet or the whole cabinet. Request the output when neighbouring outlets are occupied, rather than relying on a photograph of the label.

How fast will a visitor’s EV actually charge?

The usable charging rate depends on the combination of vehicle and equipment. A car that cannot accept the available AC power does not become faster simply because you install a larger unit [S2]. Your business brief should therefore describe the vehicles you expect to serve, as well as the equipment you are considering.

For a known fleet, collect the manufacturer’s charging specifications for each vehicle. For a public car park, ask the installer to show several vehicle acceptance scenarios. Do not base the whole design on a vehicle that can use the highest proposed rating. See charging time for how to turn an energy requirement into a time estimate.

Site power is another constraint. Load management can reduce the power supplied to chargers so that overall site demand stays within the supply limit [S3]. Ask for performance during your busiest building demand, not just a demonstration when the kitchen, heating or workshop is quiet.

What does the charging-speed arithmetic look like?

This is an illustration, not a quote or a measured charging session. Assume a visitor needs 20 kWh, the car accepts the stated constant power, and there are no conversion losses, delays or power sharing. Use the energy-divided-by-power method described by Energy Saving Trust [S2].

Multiply hours by 60 to obtain minutes. These are deliberately idealised results. In particular, the highest power rows are not realistic promises for an unspecified vehicle. Use an expected average charging rate for your actual vehicles before turning this arithmetic into a visitor-facing time statement.

For your own site, replace 20 kWh with the amount a visitor wants during the stop. A customer topping up for the next journey has a different requirement from a fleet vehicle preparing for a working day. Avoid asking only how quickly a completely empty battery can be filled.

Which speed should your business investigate first?

Write down the service you want to offer. Is charging an amenity while people work or sleep, a top-up while they eat, or the main reason to stop? Then test the energy requirement against the time available. The dwell-time guide develops this method by business type.

For accommodation, consider hotels and holiday parks. For an all-day staff car park, start with offices and workplaces. A mixed site may need separate guest, staff and passing-driver assumptions rather than a single speed throughout.

Take that service brief into the commercial charger cost guide and funding comparison. Compare fully funded, part funded and self funded offers against the same operating requirement. Ask who funds any connection work, who controls bay access and whether the proposed power is written into the offer.

What should you do next?

Send your parking duration, intended users, vehicle information and known supply details when you get matched with an installer that covers your area. Ask for a written explanation of output per vehicle when the site is busy.

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