DC Fast Charger Manuals & Owner Guides

All-in-one vs. distributed chargers

All-in-one

Power electronics, controls and cables in a single cabinet at the stall. Simpler to install; each unit serves its own outputs.

Distributed (split)

A central power cabinet feeds compact dispensers at the stalls. Suited to larger sites where power can be pooled across several stalls.

Connector standards in North America

• CCS (Combined Charging System) — the long-standing DC standard for most non-Tesla EVs in North America.
• NACS (SAE J3400) — the connector originally developed by Tesla, now standardized and being adopted by many automakers.
• CHAdeMO — used by some older Japanese-market vehicles; increasingly rare on new chargers.

Efficiency, standby power and operating cost

ENERGY STAR DC chargers are tested for conversion efficiency across load levels and for power drawn when no vehicle is connected. A few percentage points of efficiency matter at high throughput: at 95% efficiency, roughly 5.3 kWh is lost for every 100 kWh delivered. Standby draw adds a fixed cost every hour of the year, and utility demand charges are often the largest single operating expense.

DC Fast Charger FAQ