DC Charging Unit: Wall Mounted or Pedestal?
When choosing a DC fast charging unit, the first thing discussed is usually power: 40 kW, 80 kW or 120 kW? Once the power is settled, a second decision appears that most buyers do not expect: the same unit can be offered in two different enclosures. One is mounted on a wall, the other stands on its own pedestal. Electrically they do the same job; the difference is entirely on site.
The real difference between the two types
A wall mounted unit is fixed to a load-bearing surface. The wall carries the weight, the unit sits clear of the ground and the area in front of it stays completely free. A pedestal unit stands with its own body on a base; it can be placed where there is no wall behind it, such as an open car park, the middle of a parking island or the edge of a landscaped area. For that reason the pedestal type is deeper and noticeably heavier.
| Wall mounted | Pedestal | |
|---|---|---|
| Output power | 40 kW | 40 kW |
| Connector | CCS2 | CCS2 |
| Width x Depth x Height | 600 x 320 x 900 mm | 600 x 425 x 1770 mm |
| Weight | 80 kg | 105 kg |
| Mounting | Fixed to a load-bearing wall | On its own pedestal, anchored to the ground |
| Typical location | Indoor car park, building facade, site wall | Open car park, parking island, area without a wall |
When is wall mounted the right choice?
If the mounting location has a solid wall or column able to carry the weight of the unit, wall mounted is almost always the more practical option. No base is poured, the ground is not drilled, the unit stays out of the vehicle impact line and no parking space is lost. Indoor car parks, building facades and site perimeter walls are the natural home of this type.
When is the pedestal type needed?
If there is no wall where the car pulls up, the decision has been made for you. The middle of parking islands, the central lanes of open car parks and the edges of landscaping have no wall; there the unit has to stand on its own pedestal. The second advantage of the pedestal type is visibility: a body 1770 mm tall is noticed from a distance, which matters for businesses positioning their site as a public charging point.
The third factor: cable and approach
Regardless of enclosure type, the unit has to reach the vehicle's charging socket. DC cables are heavy, so unnecessary length tires the user while a cable that is too short forces the car to be parked in a particular direction. That is why enclosure choice and parking layout are planned together: which direction the car approaches from, which side of the car the charging socket is on and whether the cable reaches without dragging on the ground are measured during the survey.
How is a load-bearing surface assessed for the wall type?
Before choosing the wall type there is a simple question that often gets skipped: can this wall carry a unit of 80 kilograms, together with the cable hung on it, for years? Reinforced concrete walls and columns present no problem with this load; a lightweight partition, a hollow block wall or a surface built later is not considered load-bearing. The mounting height is also decided here: a level where the connector is easy to reach but the cable does not drag on the ground. This assessment is not made from a catalogue but by looking on site.
At higher power the enclosure question disappears
The wall and pedestal distinction belongs to the lower power class. As power rises, the converter and cooling volume inside the unit grow, the device leaves the range of an enclosure that can hang on a wall and becomes a floor-standing cabinet. In the Bemis BEVDC series 40 kW is offered in two enclosures while 80 kW and above are cabinet type; models of 120 kW and above additionally have a 10 inch capacitive touchscreen and IK10 impact resistance. So the enclosure choice actually narrows by itself along with the power class.
The electrical specification is the same on both types
Do not assume that choosing by enclosure costs you features. In the Bemis BEVDC series both enclosures carry the same electrical platform: CCS2 connector, AC 380-480 V three phase input, 150-1000 V DC output range, IP54 protection class, -25 °C to +55 °C operating temperature, OCPP 1.6J / 2.0.1 protocol support and user authentication by RFID card and mobile app. The series extends from 40 kW to 200 kW; at higher power classes the enclosure becomes cabinet type.
Let us confirm with a survey which enclosure suits your site layout.
See the DC fast charging unitsFrequently Asked Questions
What is a DC charging unit?
A DC charging unit is a fast charger that converts the alternating current it takes from the grid into direct current inside itself and delivers it straight to the vehicle battery. In AC charging that conversion is done by the car's own on-board charger, which limits the power; in DC the conversion happens inside the unit, so the on-board charger is bypassed and far higher power becomes possible. That is why DC units provide charging on a scale of minutes and are used where vehicles stop only briefly. In the field the same product is also called a DC charger, a fast charging unit or a DC charging station.
Is there a power difference between wall mounted and pedestal DC units?
No. For the same model the enclosure type does not change the electrical specification; output power, connector type, protection class, operating temperature and protocol support are identical on both. The difference appears on the physical side: the pedestal type carries its own base and is therefore deeper and heavier. On the Bemis BEVDC 40 example the wall mounted unit is 600 x 320 x 900 mm and 80 kg while the pedestal type comes in at 600 x 425 x 1770 mm and 105 kg. The choice is therefore made on mounting surface and site layout, not on performance.
Does a pedestal charging station need ground preparation?
Yes. Because a pedestal unit transfers its own weight to the ground, the place where it is anchored has to be prepared to carry that load; in practice this usually means a concrete base and anchors. In addition, since the cable enters from below, the route has to be planned together with the base; opening a cable duct later is far more costly. With the wall type this step does not exist, as the unit is fixed to a load-bearing surface. In both cases the ground and mounting detail should be determined on site during the pre-installation survey.
Which DC power class should I choose for my business?
What decides is how long the vehicle will stay at your site. If the car stops for half an hour or more, the 40 kW class covers most scenarios; where the visit drops to fifteen minutes, on roadside locations, higher classes start to make sense. As power rises it is not only the unit but also the grid connection and transformer side that grow, so the decision should not be made by looking at the unit price alone. The Bemis BEVDC series covers the 40, 80, 120, 160, 180 and 200 kW classes; the right class is selected by weighing visit duration and existing electrical infrastructure together.
Can a DC charging unit be installed outdoors?
Yes, these units are designed for outdoor installation. The Bemis BEVDC series has an IP54 protection class and is specified to operate between -25 °C and +55 °C; in other words it can be positioned in an open car park exposed to rain and seasonal temperatures. Even so, two points get attention on site: the unit and its cable should stay outside the vehicle manoeuvring line, and it is preferable that the screen is not in direct sunlight all day. The installation position is chosen during the survey with these details in mind.
