Charger guide · DC rapid
50kW Rapid Charging Guide
A 50 kW DC rapid charger sends direct current to a compatible vehicle battery, avoiding the car's lower-powered onboard AC converter. It is a useful public charging option during a stop or longer journey.
What to expect from 50 kW charging
The charger can provide up to 50 kW, but the vehicle controls how much power it accepts. Battery temperature, state of charge, site load and charger sharing can all reduce the live rate. CCS2 is a common UK connector for DC rapid charging.
Benefits
- Quicker top-ups than most domestic AC charging.
- Can be useful at retail, leisure and travel locations.
- Compatible CCS2 vehicles manage their own safe charging limits.
Example charging times
For a 60 kWh usable battery, a 10–80% top-up adds 42 kWh. These idealised examples assume constant power.
| Effective charging power | Ideal time for 42 kWh | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 50 kW | 50 minutes | Vehicle able to accept 50 kW |
| 40 kW | 1 hour 3 minutes | Vehicle or site limit reduces speed |
50kW rapid charging FAQs
A 60 kWh battery's 10–80% top-up is 42 kWh, or about 50 minutes in an ideal steady 50 kW calculation. Real stops can be longer.
CCS2 is common for DC rapid charging. Confirm that both your vehicle and the charging station support the connector.
The vehicle manages the charging process and its limits. Follow the manufacturer's charging recommendations for your model.
Explore more
Compare 150 kW rapid charging and 250 kW ultra-rapid charging, or choose a vehicle from our EV guides.