During the “International e-Mobility Summit 2023” organized by Mobility Portal Europe, authorities from companies involved in charging infrastructure discussed the advantages and disadvantages of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) charging.
The debate was initiated by Christoph Erni, CEO of Juice Technology, who believes that DC charging could damage batteries if they have a low level of management.
However, he acknowledges that nowadays most cars have a “high level of management.”
“They charge rapidly with direct current equipment up to 50%, and then slow down to safely maintain the battery, demonstrating that the system is not harmful,” Erni states.
Javier Lázaro, Country Manager for Spain, Portugal, and Italy at XCharge, confirms the CEO of Juice Technology’s position based on his own experience:
“When I bought my electric car, I didn’t have an AC charging station at home, so I had to use DC equipment for a year, and the battery didn’t undergo any changes.”
“The battery management system of my vehicle must be quite good because fast charging didn’t affect its range,” he adds.
On the other hand, regarding the debate about which of the two systems is better for charging, both Erni and Lázaro agree that both are necessary to develop the electromobility market.
The truth is that currently, AC chargers can be found in various locations.
However, DC charging is essential to ensure the continuity of long-distance travel.
“The perfect solution for car charging is a combination of both,” Lázaro expresses.
And he clarifies, “There will be many more AC charging stations in homes, parking lots, and shopping centers, but there will also be DC ones.”
Despite many electromobility users preferring to use DC chargers – as they are seen as a fast solution – AC charging still plays a fundamental role.
“Using AC charging for home and parking charging is simpler because these devices are available at a lower price compared to DC chargers,” asserts Erni.
On his part, Adriano Mones Bayo, President of the Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility (AEDIVE), confirms that DC charging will continue to have a presence in the European market.
“By 2030, 96% of home and workplace chargers will be DC chargers,” explains the President of AEDIVE.
New projects in charging infrastructure
During the event, Erni tells Mobility Portal Europe that Juice Technology has started developing the next generation of products.
“It will be a device that combines our wall and mobile charging expertise,” the CEO indicates.
He explains that the main differentiating factor of the company’s chargers is their easy portability.
It’s worth mentioning that charging management with Juice Technology’s products is very simple to perform.
“By simply taking a photo of the QR code on the station, you can connect multiple stations and let them know that together they have a certain amount of available amps to use,” Erni comments.
Regarding XCharge, the company recently launched a 420 kW charger.
“While there aren’t many vehicles that require that much power yet, we want to be prepared for when the time comes,” Lázaro asserts.
Furthermore, it’s worth highlighting that last year XCharge introduced a device that includes an integrated energy storage system (ESS).
This was designed to be used in locations where there are issues related to the availability of power for charging.
“It allows for drawing 60 kW from the grid and providing 210 kW to the car thanks to the additional power boost,” he explains.
Finally, it is worth noting that XCharge could open a new factory in the United States in the coming months.
So far, the company has installed over 7,000 fast-charging stations distributed across Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
