The most consequential decision when equipping a charging station is also the most basic: AC or DC, and with which connectors. Get it right and your station serves the vehicles that actually pass by; get it wrong and you have an expensive box few people can use. This guide explains the two charging types, the connector standards that matter in India, and how to match equipment to the vehicles you want to serve. For the full business context, start with how to start an EV charging station in India.
AC vs DC: the fundamental difference
AC charging is slower and cheaper. AC chargers in India are typically rated 3.3 kW or 7.4 kW, and because the vehicle's onboard charger does the conversion work, the station-side hardware is simple and inexpensive. AC suits destinations where vehicles dwell for an hour or more — offices, malls, apartments, hotels.
DC fast charging is faster and far costlier. The charger itself converts power and feeds it straight to the battery, so it can deliver high power: public DC units are commonly 30–60 kW, with premium machines at 120–150 kW. DC suits highways, transit corridors and busy urban sites where drivers want to top up quickly and leave. The economics of each — and the much higher capex of DC — are covered in the full setup cost breakdown and in is the charging business profitable.
Connectors that matter in India
| Connector | Use / power |
|---|---|
| Type 2 (AC) | Standard AC for cars — typically 3.3/7.4 kW |
| CCS2 (DC) | Standard DC fast charging for cars; supports 50–350 kW |
| LECCS ("Type 7") | Light EVs (2W/3W); BIS-approved 2023; up to 7 kW AC, ~10–12 kW DC |
| Bharat AC-001 / DC-001 | Legacy — 3×3.3 kW AC for 2W/3W and ~15 kW DC |
| CHAdeMO / GB/T | CHAdeMO phased out for new installs; GB/T mainly e-buses |
For cars, the combination to remember is Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC — virtually all modern Indian EVs use CCS2, and it scales from 50 kW up to 350 kW. The driver-side view of these standards is in our consumer guide to EV charger types and connectors.
Matching equipment to vehicles
The clean way to decide is to start from who you are serving:
- Cars → Type 2 (AC) and CCS2 (DC). This covers the modern four-wheeler fleet.
- Two- and three-wheelers / light EVs → LECCS, or legacy Bharat AC where still relevant.
- Buses → high-power CCS2, or legacy GB/T where applicable.
A typical commercial station on a mixed-traffic site installs both an AC option and a CCS2 DC fast charger so it can serve dwell-time and quick-charge customers alike.
Don't forget compliance
Whatever you choose, the chargers must be BIS-certified to be installed legally — one of several requirements covered in the guide to licences and approvals for an EV charging station. Equipment choice also affects which subsidies apply, since several schemes are tied to charger type and standards — see the government subsidy for EV charging stations. Power levels, prices and standards evolve, so confirm current BIS requirements and approved equipment with your DISCOM and state EV portal before ordering.