DC chargers for business: which power level to choose, and what do you need to prepare?

A DC charger converts power to direct current inside the unit and sends it straight into the car's battery, so it charges much faster than an AC charger and suits businesses with a steady flow of vehicles coming in to charge. The choice of model depends on how many vehicles need to charge at the same time, how long they stay parked, and how much 3-phase power your site can supply.

Businesses starting to think about installing EV chargers, whether service stations, hotels, restaurants, shops, office buildings or companies with vehicle fleets, tend to face the same set of questions: how many kW to choose, how many connectors are needed, and how to prepare the electrical supply. This guide sums up the DC charger options that EV Easy sells and installs, based on manufacturer specifications confirmed by our team, along with a way of thinking about choosing to match real-world use.

How do DC chargers differ from AC chargers?

An AC charger sends alternating current into the car, and the car's built-in converter (On-Board Charger) converts it before storing it in the battery, so the speed is limited by the equipment in the car. A DC charger converts AC to DC inside the charger itself and sends it straight into the battery, so the speed depends on the charger's power and on how much DC power each car model can accept. Read the full comparison in the article AC Charger vs DC Charger: what is the difference?

For typical homes, an AC charger is usually enough because the car is parked overnight for many hours. But for businesses where cars are not parked for long, or where many cars come in each day, a DC charger shortens the charging time for each car, so you can serve more customers in the same space.

What DC chargers does EV Easy offer?

EV Easy offers three groups of DC chargers, by scale of use

The information in this table comes from each model's specifications on its product page. All All-in-One models have a DC output voltage of 200–1,000 V, support the OCPP 1.6J back-end protocol (upgradeable to 2.0.1), and allow several ways to authenticate before charging, such as RFID, PIN, VIN or an app. Their dust and water protection rating is IP55.

Who is the wall-mounted Compact DC for?

The Compact DC is a compact wall-mounted DC charger rated at 20, 30 and 40 kW. It uses a 400 Vac 3-phase 5-wire input, a CCS2 connector and an IP54 dust and water protection rating. It suits sites that need faster charging than an AC charger but do not want a large unit, such as building car parks, shops, or homes where EVs are used heavily.

A real installation example is a wall-mounted 30 kW DC Fast Charger installed at a private home in Lat Phrao district, Bangkok for a regular EV user who wanted to cut charging time. Our installation team checked the electrical system before installation, installed cabling and protective devices to suit the charger's power, checked the earthing system and tested charging with the customer's car before handover.

• Compact DC 20 kW (DC20)
• Compact DC 30 kW (DC30)
• Compact DC 40 kW (DC40)

All-in-One DC: how many kW should I choose?

The All-in-One combines the power cabinet and charging connectors in a single unit. It is available from 60 to 480 kW, and every model can split its power between two connectors, e.g. the L60 splits into 30 + 30 kW, the L120 into 60 + 60 kW and the L240 into 120 + 120 kW. The way to choose is to work out how many vehicles you need to charge at the same time, and how much power each should receive during the time it is parked. Businesses where cars stay parked for a long time, such as hotels or workplaces, may use lower power per connector than roadside stations where customers stop only briefly.

• All-in-One DC 60 kW (L60) · 80 kW (L80) · 120 kW (L120)
• 160 kW (L160) · 180 kW (L180) · 200 kW (L200)
• 240 kW (L240) · 320 kW (L320) · 360 kW (L360)
• 400 kW (L400) · 480 kW (L480)

Another thing to consider from the start is the connector. All-in-One models support CCS1, CCS2, GBT, CHAdeMO and NACS connectors as ordered. Check which DC connector your customers' cars or your fleet use, and tell our team when you request a quotation, so the connectors ordered match the vehicles that will actually use them.

What should I do if I need many connectors in one place?

For stations that need a large number of connectors, the Power Cabinet system acts as a central power cabinet, ranging from 240 kW up to 1 MW, and connects to 2–12 dispensers via the Charging Dispenser, with dynamic power allocation. The advantage is that power is shared among the connectors where cars are actually charging, instead of being fixed to any one connector. Dispensers are available in both air-cooled and liquid-cooled versions. This system suits planning for large stations that may add more connectors in the future.

How should the electrical supply be prepared before installing a DC charger?

All groups of DC chargers use 3-phase power. The Compact DC specifies a 400 Vac 3-phase 5-wire input, while larger models need more power according to the size of the unit. The size of the transformer, meter, main cables and protective devices required depends on the total power of all chargers on the site and the existing electrical system, which varies greatly from site to site. Our team therefore does not use generic figures in place of a survey; instead we survey the site and assess it together with the site owner before quoting.

• The number of vehicles that need to charge at the same time during peak hours
• The average time each vehicle stays parked
• The size of the existing 3-phase supply and transformer
• The cable run distance from the electrical panel to the installation point, and the space for the unit
• The payment or authentication system required, and back-end system connection (OCPP)

Summary: how to get started cost-effectively?

Start by working out how many vehicles will charge at the same time and how long they will stay parked. For private use or small car parks, the wall-mounted Compact DC is a space-saving starting point. For stations with many vehicles per day, the All-in-One, which can split power between two connectors, is the main option. And if you are planning a large station, the Power Cabinet with Charging Dispenser system lets you add more connectors later. DC charger prices depend on the model and the installation. Contact our team for a quotation and to book a site survey, or read more about the investment side in the article Investing in a small EV charging station, and see all our business solutions on the Business solutions and projects