How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Here are three example battery sizes and the time it could take to charge from empty to full on five common types of charging points:
Slow | Fast | Rapid | |
---|---|---|---|
Power Rating | 3-7kW | 7-22kW | Up to 50kW |
Electrical supply type | AC | Usually AC, DC available | Usually DC, AC also available |
Charge time | 4 to 8 hours | 2 to 4 hours | 25-40 minutes (80% charge) |
Vehicle range added in 15 minutes | 3-6 miles | 6-20 miles | 35-40 miles |
Connector | Type-1 & Type-2 | Type-1 (Max 7kW) & Type-2 | CHAdeMO, CCS & Type-2 |
Best use | Work/home | Home/work/on-the-go | On-the-go/long journeys |
EV compatibility | All | All, some vehicles may charge slower than others | Dependent on connector type. Not all BEVs and very few PHEVs are capable of accepting a rapid charge |
Remember, it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself charging an EV’s battery from empty very often. More likely, you’ll be charging overnight at your home charging point or topping up during the day at a public station.
Based on that, it helps to think of how many miles your EV will gain per hour of charging. For an average EV it will take the following times to charge:
- 3.7kW slow chargers: up to 15 miles
- 7kW fast chargers: up to 30 miles
- 22kW fast chargers: up to 90 miles
- 43-50kW rapid chargers: up to 180 miles
- 150kW rapid chargers: up to 400 miles