What Is the Right EV Charger for You? Debunking Common Myths and Understanding the Technology

Traffic in India is undergoing a massive shift. While everyone rushes to trade combustion engines for batteries, the vehicle itself is just the endpoint. The real workhorse that powers this whole transition is the EV charger. It’s the heart of the whole system, yet for new owners, understanding how it works isn't always easy.

You have to navigate kilowatt ratings and compatibility charts that can look like a different language. Clarity comes from understanding the engineering principles instead of just following marketing trends. This approach ensures you select hardware that actually aligns with your operational requirements.

You cannot choose the right equipment without understanding the core technology. The comparison between an AC vs DC EV charger depends on where the electrical current changes form. The grid powers your home with Alternating Current, but the battery in your car can only store energy as Direct Current.

If you plug into an AC charger, your vehicle must handle the conversion itself using an onboard charger. This process takes time because the hardware inside the car has physical limits. DC fast chargers work differently as they convert the power inside the station itself. This allows the system to bypass the onboard equipment and push high-voltage power straight into the battery. That is why DC units are the standard for highway stops where speed matters most.

Conflicting advice often complicates the decision for new owners. We should analyse three specific myths through a technical lens to see why they are incorrect.

Drivers often assume that higher power ratings always mean a better charge. That is not always true. High-speed charging is vital for highway trips, but it is often overkill for daily city driving. An EV charger acts as a gateway that talks to the Battery Management System to agree on a safe energy flow. If a vehicle cannot handle high input power, plugging into an ultra-fast station gives you no operational advantage. The car will just limit the intake to its maximum capacity.

Also, using high-voltage DC charging too often creates heat inside the cells. This thermal stress can wear down the battery chemistry over the vehicle's life. For daily top-ups, a standard AC EV charger is the more efficient choice.

Homeowners often worry that installing a private EV charger requires industrial-grade wiring. That is rarely true. The installation process is straightforward for most Indian residences. Existing infrastructure can usually support single-phase AC chargers between 3.3kW and 7.4kW.

These units provide enough power to charge a vehicle overnight without overloading the domestic supply. You generally do not need a three-phase connection unless you choose a high-capacity 22kW unit. Modern charging units fit smoothly into standard electrical setups with minimal intervention.

Public infrastructure solves range anxiety, but using it daily is not cost-effective. Public stations have to cover operational costs and commercial electricity tariffs. These factors drive up the price per unit of electricity.

Data suggests that home charging is two to three times cheaper than public alternatives for daily needs. Investing in a dedicated home EV charger allows you to use lower domestic rates. It also offers the convenience of waking up to a full battery every morning.

When you evaluate the various types of EV chargers on the market, look at three technical factors to ensure the device matches your requirements.

• Vehicle Capability: Check the onboard charger rating. Buying a 22kW charger helps nothing if your car is limited to 7.4kW AC input. 
• Daily Usage: If your commute stays within city limits, a standard 7.4kW AC charger offers enough recovery time overnight.
• Smart Connectivity: A modern EV charger is a smart device. Look for units with remote monitoring and scheduling features to take advantage of off-peak tariffs.

Lauritz Knudsen Electrical & Automation prioritises safety and efficiency. We built TECharge on this philosophy. It is our integrated EV charging solution designed to create a complete ecosystem for residential users, commercial spaces, and fleet operators.

The TECharge portfolio features robust AC chargers in 3.3kW, 7.4kW, and 22kW variants. We adhere to global standards to ensure hardware compliance. Beyond the box, we provide a sophisticated Charging Management System for real-time monitoring and secure billing. We also built the TECharge Mobile App to enhance the user experience. It allows users to locate stations and manage sessions effortlessly.

Our solutions include versatile connectivity options such as WiFi, Ethernet, 4G, and BLE to ensure a secure and future-ready infrastructure.