Jargon explained
Understanding EV terminology
There’s lots of new jargon when it comes to electric vehicles. This guide simplifies the new language you may come across, making it easy to understand.
vs
AC
AC stands for alternating current
The electricity that comes from the plugs in our home is AC
The batteries in EVs charge via DC, so the AC current is converted into DC by the on-board charger
This means charging will be slower with an AC charger than a DC charger
DC
DC stands for direct current
Many public fast charge points are DC
The current does not have to be converted by the on board charger
Therefore DC chargers can charge the car more quickly than AC chargers
vs
kW
kW is a measure of energy transfer
With EVs, the power of chargers is measured in kW
The higher the kW, the faster the charger will charge your car
kWh
kWh is a measure of stored energy
With EVs, the size of the battery is measured in kWh
The higher the kWh, the larger the battery and, generally, the further the range