Skip to content
EV charging glossary

Industry jargon

AC and DC charging

AC and DC charging differ mainly in where the electrical power is converted into the DC needed by the vehicle battery. With AC charging, the vehicle's onboard charger performs the conversion. With DC charging, the main conversion takes place in the external charging equipment. Moving the power electronics off the vehicle allows DC equipment to be built for much higher charging power than a typical onboard charger, although the vehicle still sets the power it can safely accept. AC or DC describes the electrical form of the power delivered at the vehicle interface. It does not by itself tell you the exact connector, charging speed or communication protocol.

Related terms

AC

DC

Onboard charger
Browse the full glossary Interactive periodic table

Get in touch

Ready to talk through your project?

Tell us what you're building and our engineers will help you scope the fastest, lowest-risk route to market. A conversation directly with the people who design the charging modules.

Your enquiry is sent directly to the Versinetic engineering team. We do not share your information with third parties. By submitting this form you agree to our Privacy Policy.