DC Fast Charging (DCFC) is a high-speed EV charging method that delivers direct current straight to the battery pack, bypassing the vehicle's internal alternating current charger. It operates at much higher power levels than standard charging, typically starting at 50 kW and exceeding 350 kW on high-capacity stations. This allows an EV to replenish 80 percent of its battery capacity in under an hour, making long-distance travel viable.
Plug it into the DCFC out back to see if the contactors close properly.
DCFC rates usually throttle heavily after the battery reaches 80 percent state of charge to protect the cells from overheating and lithium plating.
Also heard as
- DC fast charging
- Level 3 charging
Related terms
EV
An electric vehicle uses one or more electric motors for propulsion instead of an internal combustion engine.
CCS1
The Combined Charging System type 1 is a standard plug design used for DC fast charging on electric vehicles in North America.
CCS2
The Combined Charging System type 2 is the standard DC fast charging connector for electric vehicles in Europe and other global markets.
Charging point
A dedicated infrastructure installation that supplies electric energy for recharging plug-in electric vehicles.