Outdoor EV Charging Post​, Electric Vehicle (Car) Charging ​

Technical differences between DC and AC charging posts

In the field of electric vehicle charging, DC charging post and AC charging post have significant differences in charging speed, efficiency and impact on battery and power grid due to their different working principles and application scenarios.

Technical differences between DC and AC charging piles

• Charging method: AC charging post needs to rely on on-board charger (OBC) to convert AC power to DC power, while DC charging post provides DC power directly to the battery without OBC conversion, which makes charging faster.
• Charging power: AC charging posts usually have low power (3.7kW-22kW) and are suitable for home and office scenarios, while DC charging posts have high power (30kW-350kW), such as the 180kW DC post in webpage 2, which has an output voltage range of 200V-1000V, and can be adapted to different battery systems to realize more efficient charging.
• Charging efficiency: AC charging efficiency is affected by OBC and is generally 85%-90%, while DC charging post integrates high-efficiency power conversion module internally, for example, the efficiency of 180kW DC post can be up to 95%, which reduces energy loss and improves charging speed.

Multi-standard compatibility:

The standardization of charging post interfaces still faces many challenges in the global electric vehicle market. Taking SCU Power charging pile as an example, it supports a variety of protocols such as CCS, CHAdeMO, GB/T, etc., which demonstrates the adaptability of the current charging equipment to the compatibility of the global market.

However, due to the differences in technical standards, policies and regulations, and market demand among countries, the unification of charging interfaces is still an important issue for the industry.

Regional distribution of charging interface standards

At present, the global EV charging standards are mainly categorized as follows:

• CCS (Combined Charging System): Europe and North America mainly adopt the CCS standard, of which CCS1 is used in the United States and CCS2 is applicable to Europe.
• CHAdeMO: Japan’s leading fast charging standard, still used in Asia and some European markets, but market share is gradually replaced by CCS.
• GB/T (National Standard): National standard adopted in China, applicable to all electric vehicles in the country.
  Tesla Supercharger: Tesla adopted a proprietary interface in the early days, and has gradually opened up to the North American standard (NACS) recently.

Different standards in different countries and regions have led to the need for car companies and charging facility manufacturers to provide multi-standard compatible charging piles, such as SCU Power charging piles that support CCS, CHAdeMO, and GB/T, to meet different market demands.

Trend of charging interface standardization

• CCS becoming a global mainstream standard: European, North American and some Asian markets have gradually moved closer to the CCS2 standard. For example, some new models in Japan have begun to support CCS, and Tesla has adopted NACS (based on CCS1) in North America, showing that the CCS standard is becoming a global unifying trend.
• China’s GB/T standard is in line with international standards: In the future, China’s national standard (GB/T) may achieve better interoperability with the CCS2 standard by being compatible with international communication protocols such as ISO 15118.
• Smart charging and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) development: With the development of smart charging technology and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid), standardization is no longer limited to hardware interfaces, but involves broader dimensions such as smart management, payment systems and energy return.

Modularity and Scalability

In the construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, modular split charging system has become an important development direction. Taking EVMS-240 as an example, the system supports flexible output of up to 8 gun heads, realizing efficient power distribution and modular design. This architecture not only optimizes O&M costs, but also provides greater flexibility in future power upgrades.

The significance of scalability for future power upgrade

• Flexible Adaptation to Different Scenario Requirements: Supporting multiple gun outputs, the charging power can be flexibly configured according to different application scenarios (e.g., highway service areas, commercial vehicle charging stations, urban public charging stations). For example, 4 guns can be selected in the initial deployment, and then with the growth of demand, it can be expanded to 8 guns without the need for additional replacement of the main equipment.
• Easy to adapt to higher power standards in the future: With the development of EV battery technology, future EVs may support higher power charging requirements, such as ultra-fast charging at 350kW and above. The modular charging system can be smoothly upgraded by replacing or adding power modules to avoid equipment obsolescence due to insufficient power.
• Support for V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid Interaction) and Smart Charging Networks: Modular systems make it easier to integrate V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, enabling charging stations to optimize grid loads and improve energy efficiency through vehicle-to-grid interaction in the future.