Jul. 21, 2025
If you are looking at potentially switching to an electric vehicle (EV), charging speed will be at the forefront of your mind. The time it takes to charge an EV can significantly impact your daily routine as an EV owner. DC fast charging is the quickest way to charge an electric vehicle, and it plays an essential part in public EV charging infrastructure. DC fast charging stations are ideal for EV drivers traveling long distances and needing to quickly charge their cars along their journey and for those visiting places for a short time but wanting to keep their car battery topped up.
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The power in an electric vehicle battery is stored as direct current (DC); at the same time, the electric grid provides power as alternating current (AC). Inside an EV is an on-board charger that converts AC power into DC power before distributing the power to charge the vehicle’s battery. DC fast charging bypasses this on-board charger and charges the battery directly, dramatically reducing the time it takes to charge an EV. This is made possible as the power conversion from AC to DC occurs in the DC charging station before being output to the vehicle. DC fast charging can provide a much faster EV charging experience than AC-type charging.
DC fast charging is known as DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charging), level 3 charging, and is often referred to as rapid or ultra-fast charging.
Before we delve into the details of DC fast charging, it is essential to understand the different speed levels of EV charging and where DC fast charging fits in.
Level 1 is the slowest type of electric vehicle charging equipment currently. A level 1 EV charger plugs directly into a standard 120 volt AC outlet. The average power output is 1 kW to 1.8 kW, adding approximately 3 to 7 miles of range to your electric vehicle per hour. Needless to say, Level 1 type chargers are extremely slow and not very practical if you intend on using your electric car regularly. In parts of the world outside North America and Canada where standard household voltages are higher, 230 volt in Europe, for instance, Level 1 charging is unavailable.
Level 2 is the next speed up from level 1 charging. A level 2 electric car charger uses a 208 volt to 240 volt connection in North America/Canada and a 230 volt (single-phase) or 400 volts (three-phase) connection in Europe. The power output of a Level 2 charger is between 3 kW and 22 kW depending on where you are located in the world; this would result in 10 to 75 miles of range for an hour worth of charge. Level 2 charging stations are the most popular type of EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment), and they can be found at homes, workplaces, and many other public locations.
Both Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers deliver AC power to the electric vehicle.
Level 3 DC fast charging is the quickest and most powerful type of EV charging available. A level 3 charging station is designed to deliver more power at faster speeds than Level 2 type chargers with outputs of 15 kW to over 350 kW, enabling you to charge a standard electric car in 15 to 60 minutes. DC fast charging utilizes commercial-grade three-phase connections and delivers DC power directly to the electric vehicle’s battery, utterly different from how Level 1 or Level 2 EV charging works. Let’s look at the differences in a bit more detail.
There are two ways to charge an electric vehicle via AC (alternating current) via a Level 1 or Level 2 type charger or DC (direct current) via a Level 3 DC fast charger. AC charging is often referred to as slow, and DC is fast charging. The power that comes from the electric grid is always AC. However, the energy needed to propel your EV has to be stored in its battery, and batteries can only hold power as DC. With that in mind, the main difference between AC charging and DC fast charging is the location where the AC power is converted to DC. In AC charging, the AC power is converted in the vehicle by its on-board charger, which is time-consuming; however, with DC fast charging, the conversion takes place in the charging station before the power is delivered to the vehicle, and as a result, it can bypass the limitations of the electric vehicles’ on-board charger and deliver more power. This is what makes level 3 DC charging faster than AC charging.
With a constant charge power (kW), the DC charge current is dependent on the DC charge voltage, which is different by vehicle, battery, and state of charge (constant current (CC) start to constant voltage (CV) finish), etc.
DC fast chargers have constant power, and DC Voltage usually ranges from 200 volts to volts. The electric vehicle battery management system (BMS) will ensure it is being charged within the tolerances of the battery at any given state and communicates the demand to the EV charging station.
When charging an electric vehicle with a DC fast charging station, the EV is constantly communicating to control how much power is drawn. Several variables determine the speed at which your EV is charged; however, the main variables we will focus on are the rate of charge of the charging station, the acceptance rate of the electric vehicle, and the DC fast charging curve.
All EV charging stations are measured as their maximum output power in kilowatts (kW), known as the rate of charge or charging rate. DC fast charging stations range from 15 kW to 350 kW; even megawatt charging stations are megawatt charging stations currently in development that can output kW of power. Generally speaking, the higher the kW, the faster the charge; however, choosing a higher kW DC fast charger over a lower kW one does not necessarily mean that the electric vehicle can be charged quicker. This is where the acceptance rate of the electric vehicle influences the charger’s rate of charge.
An EV charge acceptance rate is the maximum amount of power in kW that an electric vehicle can input. The vehicle’s battery management system communicates this to the charging station when a DC fast charger cable is connected to the car. Some early electric vehicles have very low charge acceptance rates; however, more and more EVs on the market have higher charge acceptance rates to improve charging speed.
For example, let’s take a car with an EV charge acceptance rate of 50 kW. That would mean that the rate of charge would be approximately the same regardless of whether it was being charged at a 50 kW, 100 kW DC fast charging station, or even a 350 kW. Let’s look at another example, but the other way around, the Porsche Taycan has a charge acceptance rate of 270 kW, meaning it can take a peak charge of 270 kW. It would not reach its peak if you were to charge it at a 150 kW fast charging station. It would only be able to take in 150 kW as that is the maximum rate of charge of the charging station.
The DC fast charging curve is another influential variable in determining EV charging time. Every EV model has its unique charging curve, which determines how much power it can take over time as it charges. In the below chart, you can see a typical DC fast charging curve. The chart’s vertical axis shows the power output being drawn by the EV and the horizontal axis illustrates the EV battery SOC (State of Charge) over time. Typically, an EV will charge at its maximum rate for only a part of the charging cycle. Once the electric vehicle has communicated with the DC fast charging station, it will quickly reach top charging speed; then, from that point, it will slowly start to draw less power as the battery becomes more charged; you can see a steep drop-off occurs when an EV battery is charged to 80% of its capacity. Most EV manufacturers and many studies recommend charging 80% of the vehicle’s battery capacity to help prolong battery life and allow other EV drivers to use the charging station as the charge speed from 80% to 100% is vastly decreased.
There are currently four types of DC fast charging connectors used worldwide: Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO, GB/T, and Tesla Superchargers. Depending on what make and model your electric vehicle is will determine which DC connector you can use to charge it. With CCS, there are two types CCS1 which is used in North America, and CCS2, which is used in Europe. CHAdeMO is primarily for Japanese brand vehicles. However, these manufacturers are moving over to the CCS connector for newly released models in North America and Europe. GB/T is the standard connector for the Chinese market, and Tesla’s Supercharger works with all Tesla vehicles worldwide except in the EU.
With different types of electric vehicles with varying battery capacities, various level 3 DC fast charging stations with numerous power outputs, and several factors that can influence charging speed, it isn’t easy to give a precise answer to how fast DC charging is. However, we can provide an estimate of how many miles of range a DC fast charger can deliver to an electric vehicle within 60 minutes based on the power output of the charger and the kWh per 100 miles (kWh/100 mi) of the average EV, which is 34.6.
The higher the output power (kW) of a DC fast charger, the quicker it can potentially charge an electric vehicle. The kW output power can vary depending on the installation location, the brand, and the model. Current DC fast chargers on the market range from 15 kW to 350 kW. These can be standalone DC chargers that provide the full kW power to one plugged-in vehicle or split chargers that distribute the power to more than one charging cable, simultaneously charging multiple EVs by sharing the kW power output of the charger. At EVESCO, we have both standalone and split DC fast chargers that span from 50 kW upwards.
There are different types of electric vehicles on the market; battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which are all-electric and run entirely on electricity, can generally use DC fast charging stations. Their EV charge acceptance rate will depend on how much output power they can use. Some electric vehicles can accept DC fast-charging up to 300 kW. The Lucid Air Dream edition was recently tested with its peak charge at 297 kW, whereas others have a lower charge acceptance rate. Some early BEVs and hybrid EVs (HEVs) can not use DC fast charging as their battery capacity is too small. When choosing an electric vehicle, it is essential to look at the charge acceptance rate and the battery capacity to see whether you can utilize DC fast charging to its fullest.
The simple and quick answer is not really. The accepted notion within the industry is that the faster the charging, the faster the EV battery capacity will decline, which is technically accurate. However, the Idaho National Laboratory study looked into how fast charging affects battery life. It showed that even if the only type of charging used was DC fast charging, the difference in the rate of decline of the EV battery capacity compared to Level 2 AC charging is minimal.
Every electric vehicle battery has an advanced Battery Management System (BMS), which has set parameters specifically configured to prevent damage to the EV battery. The BMS controls the charge acceptance rate and monitors the battery temperature, and if needed, can lower the rate of charge to protect the battery.
While DC fast charging can affect an EVs battery life, it is minimal and doesn’t damage the battery.
DC fast charging stations are designed for industrial and commercial locations and are not suitable for installation at home due to the required three-phase connection. You can find DC fast charging in many public places, including fuel stations, service stations, commercial car parks, shopping centers, and EV charging hubs. Public DC fast charging stations can vary dramatically in price depending on the location and the time of the day they are being used. For example, in California, EV drivers can expect to pay around 30 cents per kWh for using a Level 2 charger and 40 cents per kWh for using a DC fast charger. In contrast, in another example, we found an EV driver was billed 29 cents per minute for using a DC fast charger in Chicago; a 25-minute charging session cost $7.25, adding only 50 miles of range. Tesla charges an average of 28 cents per kWh for using their superchargers when the cost per kWh is allowed.
DC fast charging stations are growing in popularity as more and more EV drivers want to charge their cars quickly when out on the road. There are an increasing number of DC fast chargers being installed in public locations, but how do you find them? There are a few ways to find these EV charging stations.
As electric vehicle adoption accelerates, the need for DC fast charging is increasing. DC fast charging is essential for public EV charging infrastructure and will help enable long-distance traveling and give households with no home EV charging somewhere to charge their cars quickly. DCFC will also be critical as we transition larger vehicles to electric, requiring larger batteries and higher charging rates to make them usable in real-world environments.
Solar power and electric vehicles have a lot in common.
Both have skyrocketed in popularity — and plummeted in price — in the last decade.
And both are far more sustainable options than traditional electricity generation and petroleum-powered transportation — the two biggest consumers (by sector) of fossil fuels in the United States.
If you’re like many owners of an EV (or hybrid car or truck), you’ve probably wondered how you can make recharging your ride more convenient and affordable.
Thanks to generous tax breaks and rapidly improving technology, solar panels could be the answer you’re looking for.
Join us for a deep dive into EV solar panel charging.
But first, let’s start with the basics…
The basic principles behind charging lithium-ion batteries are the same, whether they’re in your smartphone or EV.
Like all devices and appliances that rely on rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids require frequent charging from a 120V or 240V source of electricity,
But, as you can imagine, the charging input requirements are significantly higher for EVs.
You can get a “trickle” charge from a regular household 120V AC outlet, but it won’t take you far on the open road.
There’s also some variation in how EV chargers work depending on the make, model, and manufacturer of the vehicle.
However, EV charging is becoming increasingly standardized with most manufacturers adopting NACS — Tesla’s North American Charging Standard.
Most compatibility issues that remain can be addressed with adapters and cables.
The essential components of EV charging include:
Currently, three types or “levels” of EV charging docks are available.
The primary difference between the three levels of EVSEs is how much power they output and, consequently, how quickly they can charge your EV.
There are also two different EV charging standards in widespread use in North America: the Combined Charging System (CCS) and the North American Charging Standard (NACS) — with NACS quickly taking the lead.
Developed in , Tesla started allowing other manufacturers to use NACS in .
There are already over twice as many NACS charging stations across North America as there are CCS.
Tesla claims to have near 100% uptime with NACS, making its charging stations substantially more reliable than CCS as well as easier to find.
North American EVs with CCS use the Combo 1 standard with SAE J connectors — also known as J or Type 1 plugs.
NACS EVSEs are also frequently known as Tesla Superchargers and use an SAE J connector instead of a Type 1 plug.
No matter what level of EVSE you plug into, the charging speed will vary considerably, primarily based on the capacity or “size” of the battery.
EV battery storage capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours.
As a general rule the higher the battery capacity, the longer it takes to fully recharge.
The maximum AC output available with L1 charging is 2.4kW, which translates to about 5 miles per hour (8 km/h) of charge time.
If you leave your EV plugged in for 8 hours overnight, you should have enough power for about 40 miles of driving before you need to “refuel.”
According to MarketWatch, the average car commute in was about 12 miles or about 25 miles round trip.
The Federal Highway Administration estimates are considerably higher at about 37 miles per driver per day.
Still, if you regularly drive under 40 miles a day, L1 charging at home may be all you need.
Depending on your EV’s battery chemistry, efficiency — and the price of electricity — the cost per mile with L1 charging works out to between 2¢ to 6¢.
For EV owners with long commutes looking for the convenience of charging at home, Level 2 charging offers the best solution.
Level 2 EV chargers have become increasingly affordable as demand has risen.
You can find well-reviewed L2 EV chargers for around $500.
Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector (UWC) currently retails for about $580 and supports NACS and J charging connections.
L2 chargers are high voltage (single phase 208V or 240V) and must be installed by a licensed professional.
Typically, an electrician will install a dedicated 240V outlet that you can plug the dock into or it can be hardwired.
It’s a quick and easy job with minimal cost.
L2 offers significantly higher charge loads than L1 — between 2.5kW and 19.2kW, with an average load of around 8kW.
Tesla’s UWC offers 11.5kW/48 amp of output, which provides “up to 44 miles of range added per hour.”
Your mileage will vary based on your EV, but Tesla’s estimate is a helpful yardstick.
Once you cover the cost of the EVSE and installation, your electricity costs will be about the same as L1 charging at 2¢ to 6¢.
However, because the charge load is much higher, your EV will recharge more quickly.
Unless you’re driving a Cybertruck, an L2 EVSE should fully charge your EV overnight.
It’s crucial to note the Federal tax breaks currently available for installing an L2 home charger — especially if you plan to recharge using solar panels.
More on that below.
For more information, please visit dual power control system for electric vehicles.
Depending on your EV’s battery storage capacity and efficiency, you can fully recharge in around 30 minutes or less at Level 3.
There are tens of thousands of L3 charging stations in the US, but they tend to be clustered in a handful of states, including California and New York.
The US Alternate Fuels Data Center offers an interactive map showing EV charging locations across North America to help you plan your road trip route.
The convenience of DC fast charging is undeniable, especially for extended drives and commutes.
However, it significantly raises the cost of recharging your EV.
Stable Auto estimates the US average price per kWh of L3 charging in as 45¢, though it varies significantly from state to state.
The price per mile with L3 charging is frequently 10x – 15x higher than charging with L1 or L2 at home and sometimes approaches the price of refueling a traditional automobile with gasoline.
DC fast charging also shortens battery life.
No matter what kind of car or truck you’re driving, there are few things more frustrating — and potentially dangerous — than running out of gas.
Fully discharging your battery is the EV equivalent and yields much the same result.
You can’t walk to the nearest gas station and come back with a gas can when you’re driving an EV…
But fortunately, there’s a safer and more convenient solution.
By investing in a solar generator and portable solar panels like EcoFlow DELTA Pro, you’ll have options to take you that last few miles to the nearest charging station instead of being stuck at the side of the road.
Most portable power stations don’t offer enough AC output to power an EV, but EcoFlow DELTA Pro has you covered.
With the EcoFlow EV X-Stream adapter and Grounding Adapter, you can get up to 3.2kW of AC output power to give you last-mile options anywhere you go.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro comes with 3.2kWh of expandable storage with Smart Extra Battery and Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) options to double or triple your capacity.
Once you make it to the nearest charging station, the X-Stream adapter also allows you to recharge at L1 and L2 EVSEs — top up your power for the next time you run out of juice on the go.
One of the primary benefits of investing in solar power for EV charging or residential electricity is that there are no ongoing costs once you recoup the cost of the system.
Nothing lasts forever, but the sun isn’t going anywhere. Solar panels capture sunlight for decades, even in extreme climates, and LFP battery storage can last you 10 years or more of daily use.
With nationwide and state tax breaks like the 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit, you can reduce the cost of investing in residential solar power like never before.
Pair the Clean Renewable Energy Credit with the EV Tax Credit, and you can reduce your income tax liability by up to 30% of the total purchase and installation costs of a residential solar panel and EV charger solution.
If the cost of your solar and EVSE system exceeds your income tax liability for that calendar year, you can carry it over indefinitely.
You can also apply it to future tax bills even if you don’t currently owe federal income taxes.
By shortening the amount of time it takes to recoup your Level 2 EVSE costs and your solar payback period, you can maximize your return on investment.
If you’re still driving a car that runs on gas, there’s even a Clean Vehicle Tax Credit that can save you up to $7,500 on a new EV or $4,000 on a used one (based on individual eligibility).
Now that you know more about how to save on costs with the help of government incentives, let’s take a look at how EV charging with solar stacks up against other fueling methods.
Now that we’ve established that there are little to no recurring costs for electricity generated by solar panel systems, let’s estimate the cost of residential PV-based L2 EVSE charging vs. on-grid power and other fueling methods.
This does present a challenge, as the cost of purchasing a system needs to be averaged over a number of years in order to compare it with fuels — like gas and on-grid power — where you’re not paying upfront for the infrastructure.
It also involves predicting the cost of gasoline and utility power in the future — which is easier said than done.
Nevertheless, let’s take a look based on the following assumptions that are widely used by other experts in the industry.
Here’s how to do it, step-by-step:
1. Calculate the Average Cost of Your Solar and EVSE System Over Time
Once you’ve determined how much AC output you need to meet your needs, you can determine which solar panel system best suits your requirements. Add the net purchase cost (less any tax credits and discounts.
)of the solar panels and balance of system + your EVSE charging dock.
The sample formula looks like this:
Solar Panel System + EVSE Charger – Tax Credits and Discounts = Net Cost
With the combined purchase and installation expense, calculate the average cost per month over time. Solar panels and EVSE chargers are likely to last 25 years or more without needing to be replaced.
The net cost of a $30,000 solar panel system + an $800 L2 Charging Dock less the 30% federal tax credits would be calculated as:
$30,000 + $800 – $9,240 = $21,560 (net)
Averaged over 25 years…
$21,560 / 300 months = $72 per month
2. Estimate Solar Electricity Production by Month
To compare your electricity costs per kilowatt hour (kWh) from solar vs utility power based on the lifetime cost of your system, you must estimate the average AC output of your system per month.
Learn how to calculate solar panel production here.
3. Compare Average Utility-Grid Electricity Cost per Kilowatt-Hour vs. Hour
Finding out how much your power company charges per kWh for electricity is as easy as looking at your bill.
Obviously, grid power varies in cost from month to month, and it’s impossible to know how much electricity prices will fluctuate in the future.
(Source: Anderson Economic Group)
As you can see, EVs are significantly cheaper than gas in almost every case — particularly if you charge at home.
EV trucks vs. gas were neck and neck in terms of cost per mile in late , but that’s unlikely to continue.
Fortunately, the Alternative Fuel Data Center offers a suite of free online calculators and tools where you can accurately compare current fuel vs electricity costs for specific models, like in the example above.
Once you do the math, we’re confident you’ll find that solar panel charging for your EV will beat out both utility grid and charging station prices, as well as traditional gasoline vehicles — especially over the long term.
Whether you use solar panels or on-grid electricity, Level 1 charging has severe limitations.
Unless you only drive your EV for very short distances, you’re going to find yourself constantly searching for — and waiting at — public or private charging stations.
Most drivers can eliminate the routine use of third-party charging stations by investing in Level 2 charging.
If you leave your car plugged into an L2 charging dock overnight or for 6-8 hours daily, chances are you’ll wake up to a fully charged car.
DC-Fast charging at L3 stations is quick, but the costs can add up.
Speaking of costs…
L2 chargers are MUCH faster the L1, but they also consume considerably more electricity to recharge your EV.
By supplementing or replacing utility grid power with solar, you can significantly decrease or eliminate the portion of your electricity bill that goes to recharging your vehicle.
If you opt for an integrated whole-home solar solution, you can reduce or get rid of grid-tied power bills altogether, all while charging your car or truck.
Decreased Reliance on Public or Private Charging Stations
By and large, the rapid growth in adoption of EV and hybrid vehicles has been good for owners and drivers.
However, despite multiple government incentives and funding for building more EV charging stations, many parts of the US remain underserved.
The good news is that you shouldn’t ever have to drive that far to find a charging dock.
But what if you get there and all the EVSEs are in use or out of service?
Unfortunately, this still happens more often than any EV driver could want.
Emergency recharges — just like running out of gas — are always likely to happen, but who wants to deal with the headache on a daily basis?
By charging at home with an L2 dock powered by solar panels, you can save yourself the aggravation — and the costs — of looking for or waiting at EVSE charging stations.
There are plenty of reasons to drive an EV or hybrid other than concern for the environment.
But if you’re concerned about climate change and reducing your carbon footprint, pairing your EV with renewable solar power is a huge step in the right direction.
Even if you don’t fill up your tank with gas, the majority of electricity generation in the US still comes from burning fossil fuels like natural gas and coal.
Recharging your EV battery with solar instead of utility power is better for the future of our planet.
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