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DockChain™: A Smarter Architecture for Scalable DC Charging
- Carol Matthews
- Oct 24
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 30
Why DockChain™ Outperforms Every Other EV Charging Architecture
Executive Summary
Across the EV industry, people face the same dilemma: They want fast charging in many spaces — not just one or two, or even just in a few. They want fast charging in every space.
Traditionally, this has been impossible to achieve without enormous cost or power complexity. DockChain™ changes that.
DockChain brings a daisy-chain DC charging architecture that combines the scalability of AC, the speed of DC, and the efficiency of a shared power system. The result is a charging solution that’s faster, more flexible, and significantly more cost-effective than any conventional alternative.
When compared with:
AC (Level 2) systems
Conventional stand-alone DC chargers
High-power hub-and-spoke or “satellite” systems
DockChain consistently delivers better operational performance, lower installed cost, and greater user satisfaction.
1. The Problem: Speed vs. Coverage
Common EV charging trade-offs
System Type | Pros | Cons |
AC / Level 2 | Cheap, simple, many spaces | Too slow to be useful much of the time for most users; inefficient grid use |
Conventional DC | Fast, proven | Only a few bays; blocked chargers; poor utilization |
Hub-and-Spoke DC (Satellite systems) | More bays (typically up to 8), high throughput | Expensive, complex, over-built for most sites |
Whether the site is a fleet depot, workplace, retail car park, or other public charging location, operators hit the same wall:
They can install a few fast chargers, or
Many slow ones — but not both affordably.
DockChain eliminates that compromise. Plus, because of how it can deliver high power even with few vehicles attached (which AC cannot do) and avoids blocked or idle charger time (which DC cannot do), it delivers significantly more energy than either system can. Delivering kWh and charging vehicles is what an EV Charging system is for. DockChain is just better at it.
2. The DockChain Solution
DockChain links multiple parking bays to a single DC charger through a chain of intelligent “Docks” — compact units each containing switching and safety electronics.
Vehicles connect to any Dock; charging is managed intelligently in sequence or by software-defined priority.
Key principles:
One DC source serves many parking spaces
Vehicles charge in order of arrival (FIFO) or by configurable logic
Each active vehicle receives full DC power when it’s its turn
Expansion is simple — just add more Docks to the end of the chain
This architecture enables 6–20 + spaces per charger, depending on site power and usage patterns, with no “idle” cables or wasted hardware.
3. Comparative Analysis
3.1 DockChain vs. AC (Level 2)
AC is viable when utilization is low or users stay all day or are parking overnight.
But once a site aims to electrify more than 8–10 spaces, or expects real turnover, or if rapid turnaround of a vehicle is ever required, AC’s limitations become clear.
Advantages of DockChain:
Real charging benefit: Users gain meaningful range in 30–40 minutes, not 6–8 hours.
Operational value: Fleets can rotate vehicles without slow-charging bottlenecks.
Same overnight capability: DockChain handles sequential charging efficiently for overnight fleet charging.
Grid utilization: DC link can stay active around the clock, improving ROI on the grid connection.
Low marginal cost per bay: Installation cost per additional space falls sharply as chains extend.
In short: DockChain makes AC effectively redundant once a site moves beyond a handful of low-use chargers.
3.2 DockChain vs. Conventional DC
Conventional DC issues
Typically limited to one or two bays per charger
Blocked chargers and parking management issues hugely reduce energy delivery
High equipment and civils cost per space
Insufficient grid power available
DockChain advantages
Always-available charging: No “blocked” chargers — users plug in anywhere.
Fleet simplicity: Reduces need for valet or bay assignment.
Flexible scheduling: Same hardware works for daytime opportunity charging and overnight rotation.
Lower cost: Fewer chargers, foundations, cables, and grid interfaces.
DockChain combines the user simplicity of AC with the speed of DC, but at a fraction of the installed cost of either multiple standalone units or a hub-and-spoke array.
3.3 DockChain vs. Hub-and-Spoke
Hub-and-spoke systems use a large central DC power unit that feeds multiple satellite pedestals, each with its own cable.
These can deliver high total site power and are suitable for higher intensity applications, but at significant cost and with some operational tradeoffs.
Attribute | Hub-and-Spoke | DockChain |
Per-bay hardware cost | High (multiple satellites, heavy cabling) | Low (simple daisy-chain wiring) |
Expandability | Limited; must cable back to hub | Simple; add Docks to chain |
User experience | Variable power, unpredictable timing if other vehicles arrive after you | Predictable queue and timing |
Installation cost | High; trenching and multi-cable runs | Minimal; single cable route |
Typical bays per charger | 6–10 | 10–16 (scalable to 20 +) |
Throughput (kWh delivered) | Slightly higher in theory | Often equal in practice |
Capex per kW delivered | Significantly higher | 30–60 % lower |
Operational truth: Hub-and-spoke can edge DockChain on theoretical total energy throughput, but DockChain generally provides better per-user outcomes, lower cost, and simpler scaling — these can dominate in real-world use. The hub and spoke systems have their application in particular high-intensity applications.
3.4 Simulation vs Hub-and-Spoke: Results
To quantify the trade-off, a 10-bay site with one 150 kW charger was modelled in 30 Monte-Carlo runs with random EV arrival times, random arriving SoC, and varied battery sizes and charge curves
(this simulation uses a mix of cars. The simulation can be run with trucks, buses, whatever.)
Mean results (across runs):
Metric | DockChain | Hub-and-Spoke |
Active-time site power (kW) | 133.9 ± 7.0 | 144.8 ± 4.1 |
Mean time from arrival → target SoC (min) | 71.1 ± 14.9 | 89.5 ± 24.3 |
Interpretation:
Hub-and-spoke used marginally more of the available power but produced longer average user wait times.
DockChain returned vehicles to service sooner, even though total throughput was slightly lower — an important operational difference.
5. Expansion and Future-Proofing
With DockChain you can;
Add bays easily: Extend the chain without re-engineering the site.
Flexible sequencing: Software can prioritize vehicles dynamically (FIFO, SoC, or scheduled departure).
Upgradeable: Works with today’s chargers, from 50–400 kW; compatible with future ISO 15118 / Plug & Charge and smart-energy integrations.
High availability: Central charger can be safely located away from parking-lot hazards. Loss of a delivery cable causes minimal loss of charging deliverability.
6. Applications
Sector | DockChain Advantage |
Fleet depots | Overnight sequential charging without re-parking; ideal for vans, buses, light and even heavy trucks. Daytime operational charging also, for fast turn around. |
Retail / destination | Faster, fairer customer experience; more flexibility means happier customers, spending more |
Workplace / office parks | High-density DC coverage with minimal disruption |
Mixed-use developments | Flexible deployment; high uptime and simple expansion |
The user experience is simple to understand, simple to use, and allows site admins complete control over the charging sequence. Whether fleet drivers or members of the public, the UI can be adapted to match. And the back-end admin interface gives complete control.
7. Economic Impact
If you're comparing against a typical AC system, DockChain can be slightly more expensive to install, but is often a fraction of the cost per kWh delivered. And that's the key metric. And even looking at the increased cost, it's often a small percentage once you include the cost of installation and civils.
If you're comparing against a typical system of one or more normal DC chargers, DockChain can be significantly cheaper, reducing the number of chargers required, reducing the grid connection needed, and hugely reducing the onsite operational support needed to conduct successful fleet charging. Instead of 5 DC chargers, install 1 or 2. Instead of 25 DC chargers install 7 or 8. Instead of having onsite staff dedicated to supporting charging operations, have no-one except the drivers. Instead of having your single charger constantly empty or blocked, have it running at high utilization.
And if you're comparing with the hub-and-spoke systems, a typical DockChain installation reduces the cost in a significant :
Total system cost per bay: perhaps by 40–60 %
Cabling and civils: perhaps by 50 % or more
All these savings translate directly into lower cost and higher ROI per kWh delivered and faster payback than any other architecture, DC or AC.
8. Conclusion
AC is functionally obsolete for fleet charging and, in reality, in any application where the EV charging infrastructure is supposed to actually charge vehicles rather than merely "ticking a box". AC is functionally useless for in-day charging.
DC fast charging is a lot better and is certainly the way to go, but normal DC chargers are operationally limited, energizing too few spaces. This means low utilization, unhappy users, and wasted investment. DC is also often functionally useless for overnight charging.
Hub-and-spoke architectures can achieve marginally higher theoretical throughput, but at greater cost and complexity, and often with fewer energized spaces.
DockChain™ achieves similar or better operational performance, predictable user outcomes, and dramatically lower total cost of ownership.
In almost every real-world application — public or fleet, daytime or overnight — DockChain delivers the right power, to the right vehicles, at the right cost.
DockChain™ — Honest EV Charging. Predictable. Scalable. Economical.