Key points
- AC charging uses the car's own onboard charger, so the car sets the speed: usually 7.4kW or 11kW.
- DC rapid charging bypasses the onboard charger and runs at 50kW and above.
- Hotels, venues, holiday parks and most pubs keep cars long enough for AC.
- A rapid unit costs much more to buy and connect than a 22kW AC post, and puts a bigger load on your supply.
- Drivers pay more for rapid charging: Zapmap's September 2026 averages were 79p/kWh against 54p/kWh for slower chargers.
The short answer
Choose by dwell time. If customers stay two hours or more, AC is the right tool. If they stay 20 to 40 minutes and need a big top-up, you're looking at DC.
Most destination sites fall into the first group. That's why we install AC chargers at hotels, venues and holiday parks.
How AC and DC charging work
A car battery stores direct current (DC). The grid supplies alternating current (AC). Something has to convert one to the other.
AC charging. The charger passes AC power to the car, and the car's onboard charger converts it. The onboard charger sets the speed limit. Most cars cap at 7.4kW on single-phase or 11kW on three-phase (bestchargers.co.uk).
DC charging. The conversion happens inside the charger, which feeds DC straight to the battery. That bypasses the onboard charger, so speeds of 50kW and above are possible. Ultra-rapid units run at 150kW or more (Zapmap).
DC sessions also slow down as the battery fills. Rapid charging is at its best for quick top-ups from a low battery.
Match the charger to how long people stay
This table is a rule of thumb. Your own site's pattern matters more.
| Typical stay | Example sites | Best fit | Range added at 11kW AC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 45 minutes | Fuel stations, coffee stops, fleet turnarounds | DC rapid | Around 28 miles in 45 minutes |
| 1 to 3 hours | Pubs, restaurants, retail, attractions | AC, 22kW sockets | Around 37 to 111 miles |
| 4 to 10 hours | Wedding venues, workplaces, days out | AC | Around 150 miles or more |
| Overnight | Hotels, holiday parks, B&Bs | AC | A full battery for almost any car |
Range figures are derived from about 37 miles per hour of charging at 11kW, based on LGA and Zapmap efficiency figures. Real figures vary by car and weather.
The average usable battery across cars on sale is 73.4kWh (EV Database). At 11kW, filling one from nearly empty takes under seven hours. A hotel guest is parked for longer than that.
The cost difference
A rapid charger costs many times more than an AC post, before you count the grid connection.
Zapmap's workplace charging guide was last updated in May 2024. It put a fully installed 22kW double-headed post at £2,500 to £5,000. A fully installed rapid charger could cost up to £35,000 (Zapmap). Those figures are now over two years old and every site is different, but the gap is the point.
For that money, a destination site could fit several dual AC pedestals and charge far more cars at once. Our installation cost guide explains what drives the price.
The grid difference
Power is the other big gap. A 50kW DC charger draws roughly 72 amps per phase on a three-phase supply (derived). One dual 22kW pedestal running both sockets flat out draws roughly 64 amps per phase.
The difference is that AC chargers can share power. With load management, the sockets slow down when your kitchen or laundry is busy and speed up when it isn't. Many cars only take 11kW anyway, so the real draw is often lower. Our load management guide shows how this works.
Either way, a commercial charger usually needs Northern Powergrid's approval. The national application form allows "connect and notify" only for a single extra device below 60A per phase on a sound supply (ENA form). Above that, you apply first.
If the job needs high-voltage work, the standard quote timescale is 35 working days, against 5 for a simple low-voltage alteration (ENWL Notice of Rights). Rapid chargers are more likely to fall into the slower categories.
Space and appearance
Rapid units are usually larger and can need extra equipment beside them. That means more groundworks and a bigger base.
A dual AC pedestal is about 1.4m tall and sits on a small footprint at the head of two bays. On a hotel frontage or a wedding venue's car park, that matters.
What drivers pay
Drivers expect to pay more for speed. Zapmap's September 2026 price index put the average pay-as-you-go price at 54p/kWh for standard chargers and 79p/kWh for rapid and ultra-rapid (Zapmap).
That higher price reflects the higher cost of rapid equipment and connections. A destination site doesn't need it, because the customer is staying anyway.
The rules are similar
Both types are covered by the Public Charge Point Regulations if the public can use them. New public chargers of 8kW and above need contactless payment, and prices must be shown in pence per kWh.
Rapid networks carry extra duties. Operators must hit 99% average reliability across their rapid (50kW and above) chargers.
When DC is the right call
There are good reasons to choose DC:
- Fleet depots where vans return for a short break between rounds. See our fleet depot page.
- Sites beside main roads where drivers stop briefly mid-journey.
- High-turnover car parks where customers stay under an hour and need real range.
Some sites need both. A busy site might add one rapid unit for quick stops alongside AC for longer stays.
Why we install AC at destination sites
Our dual 22kW pedestal charges two cars at once on AC. It suits places where people stay, and it costs far less to buy, connect and run than a rapid unit.
For the cars that can take 22kW, it charges at full speed. For the majority that take 7.4kW or 11kW, a long stay still fills the battery. Our 7kW vs 22kW guide goes into the detail.
Questions to ask before you choose
Run through these before you talk to any installer:
- How long do customers usually stay? Under an hour points to DC. Two hours or more points to AC.
- How many cars might want to charge at once? Several AC sockets usually serve more cars than one rapid unit.
- What supply do you have? A three-phase supply with spare capacity makes AC simple. A rapid unit may need an upgrade.
- Where would the charger go? The further it is from your electrical board, the more the groundworks cost, and rapid units need more of them.
- What will drivers pay? Rapid charging commands a higher price, but it also costs far more to install.
If most of your answers point to AC, a dual 22kW pedestal is likely to fit your site.
Next step
If you're not sure which suits your site, a free survey will tell you. We'll look at how long customers stay, your supply and your car park, then explain the packages that fit.