| Power supply | The charging station receives electricity from a building or public electrical supply. | Utility supply → site electrical panel → charging equipment | Installation requirements depend on the available supply, local electrical codes, and the number and power of chargers. |
| AC charging | The station supplies alternating current (AC) to the vehicle. The vehicle’s onboard charger converts it to direct current (DC) for the battery. | AC supply → charging station → vehicle onboard charger → battery | Common AC charging power levels include approximately 3.7–22 kW, subject to the station, vehicle, and electrical connection. |
| DC fast charging | The charging equipment converts AC power to DC and supplies DC power to the vehicle’s battery system. | AC supply → station power electronics → vehicle battery system | Many public DC chargers provide tens to several hundred kilowatts. The vehicle and station jointly limit the actual charging rate. |
| Connection and safety checks | After the connector is attached, the vehicle and station confirm that the connection is secure and that charging can begin safely. | Connector ↔ vehicle charging inlet | Charging does not normally begin until required checks, such as connection and safety interlocks, are satisfied. |
| Communication and control | The station and vehicle exchange information needed to manage charging, including allowable voltage and current. | Station control system ↔ vehicle control system | Charging power can change during a session in response to vehicle limits, battery conditions, temperature, and station capacity. |
| Battery charging rate | The vehicle’s battery management system monitors the battery and can request a lower charging rate when necessary. | Charging equipment → vehicle battery system | DC charging commonly slows as the battery approaches a high state of charge; temperature and battery design also affect the rate. |
| Energy delivered | The amount of energy added is measured over the charging session. | Charging power over time → energy in kilowatt-hours (kWh) | As a simple estimate, 7.4 kW delivered for one hour is about 7.4 kWh before accounting for charging losses or changes in power. |
| Session completion | Charging stops when the session ends, the vehicle signals that charging should stop, or a safety or operating limit is reached. | Vehicle or user request → station stops power delivery | The connector should be released according to the vehicle and station instructions before being unplugged. |