Charging Intelligence: Why Strategic 60 kW Outperforms Idle 120 kW in the New Era of Electric Mobility

The race for ever-increasing numbers has dominated the discourse of electric mobility. In Brazil and globally, the metric for success in charging infrastructure seems to have been reduced to maximum power: 120 kW, 180 kW, 300 kW. This obsession, however, is proving to be a financial and operational trap for investors and Charge Point Operators (CPOs).

Charging Intelligence: Why Strategic 60 kW Outperforms Idle 120 kW in the New Era of Electric Mobility

EnergyChannel has found that the true charging revolution lies not in peak power, but in Charging Intelligence and the economic viability of the project. The theoretical capacity of equipment is irrelevant if it spends most of its time idle.

The End of the Brute Power Myth

Installed power is just one variable in a complex equation. What truly sustains the *business case* of a Direct Current (DC) charging station is its Utilization Rate. A 120 kW charger, no matter how modern, will not generate a return if it is only used for two hours a day.

The market is beginning to recognize a fundamental maxim: in various operational contexts, a well-planned 60 kW charger delivers superior economic value compared to a poorly sized 120 kW unit. The difference lies in the ability to generate net revenue consistently and predictably.

The Oversizing Trap

The justification of "installing big to be prepared for the future" often translates into unnecessary costs in the present. Oversizing DC chargers, especially in locations with medium or long dwell times, entails a series of financial burdens:

1. High CAPEX: The acquisition cost of a 120 kW unit can be more than triple that of a 60 kW unit [1].

2. Grid Connection Costs: Higher power demand requires more robust transformers, more expensive cables, and more complex civil works.

3. Demand Charges: The electricity demand contract becomes heavier, increasing the fixed monthly cost (OPEX), regardless of actual utilization.

4. Extended Payback: The low utilization rate (often below 15%) stretches the Return on Investment (ROI) timeline into an uncertain horizon.

A high-power DC charger that operates 23 hours a day as an immobilized asset is a financial engineering error, not infrastructure.

The 60 kW Strategy: Where Efficiency Wins

The ideal power of a charging point is defined by user behavior and dwell time at the location, not the vehicle's maximum capacity. In scenarios where the driver stays for 30 to 60 minutes, a 50 kW to 60 kW charger is the perfect balance between charging speed and economic viability.

The table below illustrates the contrast between the two approaches, focusing on financial performance:

Performance Metric	120 kW Charger (Idle)	60 kW Charger (Strategic)
Typical Location	Fast transit point (highway)	Retail, Urban Centers, Fleets
Average Utilization Rate	10% to 15%	40% to 60%
Fixed Cost (OPEX)	High (Contracted Demand)	Controlled
Revenue per Session	High (but few sessions)	Moderate (but many sessions)
Economic Viability	Risk of Immobilized Asset	Consistent Cash Flow Generation

Scenarios Optimized for Moderate Power

The 60 kW strategy shines in locations where charging is complementary to the user's main activity:

Commercial Areas and Retail: With an average *dwell time* of 40 minutes or more, the goal is to provide a partial charge (15–30 kWh), maximizing the number of daily sessions.

Dense Urban Centers: In areas with grid power limitations, choosing 60 kW allows for better management of the total infrastructure and optimizes availability.

Corporate Parking Lots and Hospitals: Locations with stays exceeding one hour and a predictable usage profile (employees, visitors) benefit from stable, controlled charging, where reliability outweighs extreme speed.

Fleets with Rotating Charging: Software-managed fleets that plan the vehicle sequence and charging window benefit from well-managed 60 kW, which avoids wasting capacity on underutilized high-power chargers.

The Future is Modular and Intelligent

The next generation of winning projects in charging infrastructure will prioritize modularity and progressive sizing. Instead of a massive initial investment in excessive power, the trend is to start with the ideal capacity for current demand (often 60 kW) and plan expansion based on real utilization data.

Electric mobility is not a race for the highest number of kW. It is an equation of balance between engineering, consumer behavior, and, crucially, economic viability. The smartest solution is always the best planned, not necessarily the most powerful.

Charging Intelligence: Why Strategic 60 kW Outperforms Idle 120 kW in the New Era of Electric Mobility