Rapid DC Chargers

DC charging is a way to charge electric vehicles (EV’s) quickly. It works by sending power directly into the battery, without needing the vehicle having to convert anything. That’s why it’s faster than other methods of charging

Usually, electricity from the grid comes default aws AC, which stands for alternating current. But fleet batteries run on DC, which stands for direct current. If you use a normal charger, your car has to change AC into DC using its own onboard system. That takes time and limits how much power it can handle.

With DC charging, the charger itself does that conversion before the power reaches your vehicle. This means it can send energy into the battery much faster because it uses more powerful equipment than what’s inside your vehicle.

These chargers are often found at places like motorway service stations, delivery hubs, or fleet depots. When you plug your EV into a DC charger, the charger and vehicle work together to decide how much power to send and how fast, depending on what your vehicle can handle. Most modern electric vehicles in the UK use a connector called CCS, which works with all newer DC chargers.

In simple terms, think of DC chargers as high powered fuel pump for electric vehicles. They get energy into your battery quickly by skipping a few steps and doing the hard work outside the vehicle. So if you don’t have hours to wait and need to get moving again soon then DC chargers are probably the right choice for you.

Electric vehicles need electricity stored in a particular way which is the direct current, or DC. But the electricity that comes from the grid is usually alternating current, or AC.

So, simply put, the main difference between DC and AC charging is where and how that power gets changed into something that your vehicle can use. With AC charging, the power goes into your car first. Then your car has to convert it into DC before it can go into the battery. This takes longer because your car’s converter isn’t very powerful.

AC chargers are slower and are better for places where cars can sit for a while, like overnight parking or all-day stays.

DC charging skips that step. It changes the electricity into DC before it reaches the car. That means it can send energy straight into the battery and do it much faster. DC chargers are often much larger and more powerful, so they’re best for situations where time matters. Examples include; commercial fleets, taxi ranks, or delivery vans that need to get back on the road asquickly as possible

Both rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are two different types of DC chargers. They are designed to get electric vehicles charged up much faster than standard lower power options. The main difference between the two is how much power they deliver and how quickly they can charge the battery.

Rapid chargers

These usually offer between 50 and 99 kilowatts of power. That’s enough to charge many electric vehicles from empty to around 80 percent in about 40 to 60 minutes. Rapid chargers are a popular choice for small fleets or businesses that want a faster option without needing a massive upgrade to their power supply.

Ultra-rapid chargers

These are more powerful. They can deliver 100 kilowatts or more — in some cases up to 350 kilowatts. That means they can charge the right vehicles to 80 percent in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. This speed is ideal for larger fleets, quick-stop locations, or businesses that need to keep vehicles moving all day.

However, not every electric vehicle can handle ultra-rapid charging. The car decides how much power it can take, so plugging into a more powerful charger doesn’t always mean you’ll charge faster. Still, having that extra capacity means your site is future-ready as more vehicles become compatible.

So which should you choose?

It depends on your business needs. Rapid charging works well if vehicles stay parked for a little while. Ultra-rapid is the better fit when time is tight and vehicles need to get back out quickly. ElectrAssure helps businesses understand the best fit based on their fleet size, vehicle type, and how often they need to charge.

DC chargers come in different power levels, and each one is suited to different needs. The bigger the power rating, the faster the charge. With this however, comes more planning and energy to install and run.

Here are the main types of DC chargers used in business and fleet settings:

50 kW DC chargers:

These are known as rapid chargers. They can charge many electric vehicles to 80 percent in around 40 to 60 minutes. They’re a solid choice for small to medium fleets or for businesses where vehicles have longer breaks between trips.

100 kW to 150 kW chargers:

These are faster and are often used at busy public stations or fleet depots. They can cut charging times down to around 30 minutes, depending on the vehicle. This level is often a good middle ground, fast enough for most fleets but still reasonable in terms of energy use.

Ultra-rapid chargers (Typically 150 kW to 350 kW and above):

These are the fastest options available. They’re built for high-traffic areas or fleets with tight schedules. In the right conditions, they can charge a vehicle to 80 percent in 15 to 25 minutes. They are especially helpful for larger electric vans or HGVs that support higher charging speeds.

Each type of charger uses a specific connector. Most new vehicles in the UK use CCS, which is the standard for fast charging. Some older vehicles use CHAdeMO, but that’s becoming less common in new models.

When choosing a charger type, businesses need to think about their daily operations, how long vehicles are on site, and how much energy their location can support. Our team can help you figure this all out before anything is installed, so you get the right chargers and infrastructure at the right price.

The truth is that it depends on both the charger and the type of vehicle being charged. But the good news is that DC charging is always faster than slower AC chargers.

A general rule of thumb however:

50 kW DC chargers: can take around 40 to 60 minutes to charge most cars or vans to 80 percent.

100 to 150 kW chargers: usually bring that down to about 30 minutes.

Ultra-rapid chargers (150 to 350 kW or more): can charge a vehicle in just 15 to 25 minutes.

The reason we often talk about 80 percent is because most electric vehicles slow down charging after that point in order to protect the battery. That means that the first 80 percent is quick, but the last 20 percent takes slightly longer.

Also, the car itself plays a big part in the overall charging process. Some vehicles can take full advantage of ultra-rapid charging, while others have limits on how much power they can accept or handle. Even if the charger is fast, your vehicle may still have its limits.

For businesses, the key here is to match charger speeds to your daily routine. If vehicles stay on site for a while, slower rapid chargers could be fine. If they need to get in and out quickly and often, then it’s likely that ultra-rapid DC chargers may be a better solution for you.

Effective DC charger installation is based on what your site and your vehicles actually need. It can help slow things down during peak grid demand and speed things up when time is tight. Automation can even stagger charging so you’re never pulling more power than your building can handle.

For busy fleets, this flexibility makes a big difference. Vehicles can be prioritised based on shift times, departure schedules, or battery levels. Everything runs in the background, with software meaning you do not have to be doing the thinking and decision making.

And because your newly installed smart chargers can link to your wider systems, you get clear visibility across your entire fleet. Charging activity, energy use, and availability are all trackable in real time.

Installing DC chargers isn’t just about choosing the right hardware. It’s also about making sure that your site can handle the power source. (This is what we mean by infrastructure.)

Every premises has a limit to how much electricity it can draw. If your site doesn’t have enough spare capacity, then adding a range of high-powered chargers could potentially cause overloads, trip systems, or lead to expensive energy bills. That’s why it’s important to understand your power infrastructure before installation begins.

At ElectrAssure, we start every project with a full site survey. This surbey tells us exactly how much capacity you have, what upgrades might be needed, and whether your current connection can support the type of chargers you’re considering.

We believe that installing DC chargers and infrastructure should be seen as an investment. Yes, it’s more expensive than slower charging options, but the return for the right business can be significant.

The cost of installing DC chargers depends on several things: the number of chargers required, charger speed, site layout, and power availability, to name a few. Some sites need electrical upgrades, others are ready to go. That’s why we always begin with a site assessment, so there are no surprises later on.

But looking at cost alone doesn’t tell the full story. We also need to look at potential ROI. Rapid charging helps reduce downtime and speeds up turnaround.

For fleet operators, DC charging can also cut operational costs over time. Electric vehicles are cheaper to run and maintain than petrol or diesel models. Faster charging makes them even more efficient, helping every vehicle do more each day.

In some cases, there may be ways to generate revenue by opening chargers to the public or partners during off-peak hours. There are also grants and tax benefits available for UK businesses, which can reduce upfront costs.

ElectrAssure helps businesses understand the full picture. We look at cost, value, and long-term return. Contact our team today to discuss options, costs, and ROI.

DC charging isn’t right solution for everyone. We take a consultative approach with our clients and offer bespoke EV charging solutions.

In our opinion, time is money for fleet based businesses. A 50 kW or 150 kW DC charger can add hundreds of miles of range in less than an hour, making it ideal for couriers, logistics companies, taxi firms, and service fleets that rely on fast turnarounds. It also helps reduce operational stress, since drivers don’t have to wait for hours to charge or juggle vehicles around limited plugs.

Even if your business isn’t fully electric yet, installing DC charging stations can be a smart move for the future. Our team helps you to future proof your site for larger fleets, new vehicle models, and stricter sustainability targets.

We have a simple and seamless process for rapid DC installation.

Every successful installation starts with a detailed site survey. This helps us to identify how many chargers you need, where they should go and how they’ll connect to your existing power supply and whether any upgrades are necessary.

Good planning avoids surprises later and ensures everything works safely and efficiently once live.

Then installation can begin. This usually involves electrical works to connect the chargers, groundwork to prepare parking bays and the integration of smart systems that manage your power use. It’s a technical process, but one that runs smoothly when handled by our experienced installers.

When installation is complete, chargers go through testing. This confirms that they’re working correctly, communicating with your vehicles and your management system, and meeting safety standards. At this point, your site is ready for day-to-day use.

We also provide ongoing maintenance and support, so your chargers continue to have optimal performance and ensure that your fleet has the least amount of downtime as possible.