Fast or Slow Charging? What Property Owners Really Need to Know
Public conversations about EV charging often focus on fast charging in public locations. But in reality, most charging happens when cars are parked — at home, at work, or in a residential garage. This means property owners should prioritise building strong charging infrastructure where it’s actually needed: in their parking facilities. It’s more cost-effective, scalable, and far more useful for EV drivers.
Oskar Ekman, our Head of Product and EV charging specialist, has over five years of experience in digital EV charging solutions, including work at Fortum’s Charge&Drive software division.
We sat down with Oskar to explore how property owners should think about EV charging — today and in the future.
“In general, aim for as many charging points as possible at lower power levels — for example, 3.7 kW.”
— Oskar Ekman
What’s the difference between fast and slow (AC) charging?
The key difference is power output.
- Fast charging (DC) delivers high power for quick charging sessions
- Normal/slow charging (AC) delivers lower power over a longer period
Charging time often becomes the centre of discussion — largely because people mistakenly compare EV charging with refuelling fossil cars. But this comparison is misleading:
Filling a combustion car requires you to move the car to a gas station and refuel manually, while charging an EV requires no physical presence — it happens while the car is parked.
Since cars are parked 95% of the time, it makes sense to charge during those periods. And because charging sessions are long, lower-power AC charging is typically more than enough for everyday needs.
The average daily driving distance in Sweden is only 25 km each way, meaning most EVs can easily recharge while parked at home or at work. Fast chargers are still essential for long-distance travel — but not for daily charging in residential or workplace garages.
Should property owners invest in fast chargers or AC chargers?
For most property owners, normal charging (AC) is the smartest and most profitable choice.
Here’s why:
Lower investment cost
AC chargers (3.7–7.2 kW) are significantly cheaper to install than fast chargers.
Better use of available power
AC charging requires far less capacity, enabling you to offer more charging points within the building’s existing electrical limits.
Matches real-world behaviour
Tenants typically charge while parked for long periods — AC charging aligns perfectly with this pattern.
Put simply: in a parking garage, AC beats fast charging almost every time.
What power levels are ideal for AC chargers?
According to Oskar:
- 3.7 kW is perfect for residential and workplace charging, where cars are parked for many hours
- 7.2 kW is ideal for fleet vehicles, pool cars or high-turnover users who need slightly faster replenishment
Can the same charging unit handle both 3.7 and 7.2 kW?
Yes.
Modern AC chargers allow you to set the power level dynamically through a Parking Management System.
This means property owners can:
- Create zones with different charging speeds
- Adjust power output based on demand
- Optimise load balancing in real time
Could property owners operate the charging service themselves?
Absolutely.
You already have the tenants — and the parking spaces. All you need is:
- Charging hardware
- A digital system that handles administration
- Integrated billing and user management
Today, many garages separate parking contracts from EV charging contracts — forcing tenants to manage two systems, two invoices, two apps. It’s inefficient and frustrating.
By integrating EV charging directly into your existing parking agreement, you create:
- A seamless experience for tenants
- Higher customer satisfaction
- A stronger long-term business model
“Integrating EV charging into the existing parking contract makes the experience dramatically smoother for tenants.”
— Oskar Ekman
What should property owners consider before installing EV chargers?
1. Understand your electrical capacity
Evaluate the building’s power supply and future needs. Engage professionals for design, hardware selection, installation, and load balancing.
2. Build a long-term business model
EV charging should be part of your broader parking strategy. The right digital tools allow you to “productise” your parking spaces with integrated services.
3. Choose a hardware-agnostic system
Your EV charging system must support multiple hardware brands and be compliant with OCPP, ensuring flexibility and future scalability.
4. Make it easy for tenants
All administration and usage should be centralised in one place — one login, one contract, one app.
With Park46, tenants can manage everything in one interface, including starting and stopping their charging sessions.
A simple checklist for property owners
- Ensure the building’s electrical capacity is properly assessed
- Keep ownership and control of the EV charging business
- Build for long-term scalability
- Use a hardware-agnostic Parking Management System
- Make the tenant experience seamless
Want to learn how our EV charging module works inside Park46?
Would you like to offer electric car charging in your parking garage?
We help you take control of your EV charging and integrate it into your parking business — on your terms. Let us show you how to get started!
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