What is the difference between an AC and a DC charging station?

With AC charging, your electric car charges with alternating current, which is converted to direct current by the inverter in your car. Depending on the charging mode (1, 2 or 3), AC charging power ranges from 2.3 kW to 22 kW. But note that the maximum charging power is determined by the inverter in your car.

For example, if your car is connected to a 22 kW AC charger, but your inverter limits it to 11 kW, the charging power will also be a maximum of 11 kW. For DC charging, capacities range from 50 kW to 375 kW.

However, depending on your car, the usable power may be limited to prevent overheating of the battery, for example to 120 kW. DC charging is done at a much higher power than AC charging, which generally reduces charging time significantly.