AC charging post, also known as a slow charger, is a device designed to provide charging services for electric vehicles. The AC charging post itself does not have a direct charging function; instead, it needs to be connected to an on-board charging machine (OBC) on the electric vehicle, which converts the AC power into DC power, and then charges the battery of the electric vehicle.

Due to the low power of OBCs, the charging speed of AC chargers is relatively slow. Generally speaking, it takes 6 to 9 hours or even longer to charge an electric vehicle (with a normal battery capacity). AC charging piles are simple in technology and structure, with relatively low installation costs and a variety of types to choose from, such as portable, wall-mounted and floor-mounted, etc., which are suitable for different scenarios and the price of AC charging piles is relatively more affordable, with the price of ordinary household models generally not being too high.

AC charging posts are more suitable for installation in car parks in residential areas, as the charging time is longer and suitable for night-time charging. In addition, some commercial car parks, office buildings and public places will also install AC charging piles to meet the charging needs of different users. Although the charging speed of AC charging station is relatively slow and it takes a long time to fully charge the battery of an electric vehicle, this does not affect its advantages in home charging and long-time parking charging scenarios. Owners can park their EVs near the charging post at night or during their free time to charge, which does not affect daily use and can make full use of the grid’s low hours for charging, reducing charging costs.

Compared with DC charging pile (fast charging), AC charging pile has the following significant features:

• Smaller power, flexible installation: The power is generally smaller (3.3 kW to 7 kW), making installation adaptable to various scenes.
• Slow charging speed: Usually takes 6-8 hours for a full charge, ideal for overnight or long-term parking.
• Lower cost: Manufacturing and installation costs are more affordable for residential and commercial use.
• Safe and reliable: Equipped with management systems to monitor current and prevent over-voltage, under-voltage, overload, and short-circuits.
• Friendly human-computer interaction: Features large LCD touch screens with multiple charging modes like quantitative, timed, and intelligent charging.

AC charging piles are widely used in homes, offices, public parking lots, and urban roads. Specific scenarios include: