The Charger Tango
2. How the Conversion Happens
Let's imagine you're trying to order a pizza in Italy, but you only speak English. You need a translator, right? A charger is like that translator for electricity. When you plug your phone into a wall socket, the charger inside your phone (or the charging brick) takes the AC from the wall and converts it to DC to safely charge your phone's battery.
The same principle applies to EVs, but on a larger scale. Some EV chargers, like the ones you plug into at home, are essentially fancy extension cords that deliver AC power to the car. The car then has an onboard charger that converts the AC to DC for the battery. Other EV chargers, often found at public charging stations, are DC chargers, meaning they convert AC to DC before it even gets to your car.
The speed at which your device or EV charges often depends on the power of the charger, meaning the rate at which it can convert AC to DC. A higher wattage charger can usually deliver more DC power in a shorter amount of time.
Think of it like pouring water into a bucket. A thin straw will take ages to fill the bucket, while a garden hose will do it much faster. Similarly, a low-power charger takes longer to fill your battery than a high-power charger.
