How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular with customers who desire their relative affordability, cutting-edge design and eco-friendliness.

An electric car can be charged at home or at any public charging stations, and the time it takes to charge depends on the battery and charging point.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

A typical electric car (60kWh battery) takes just under 8 hours to charge from empty-to-full with a 7kW charging point.

Most drivers top up charge rather than waiting for their battery to recharge from empty-to-full. For many electric cars, you can add up to 100 miles of range in ~35 minutes with a 50kW rapid charger.

Factors That Impact Charging Time

Charging times may vary due to several factors. What is your power source? How much power can your electric car handle? How can drivers charge their vehicles and get back on the road more quickly? Depending on an electric vehicle power source and battery capacity, drivers can charge their cars in as little as 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, that isn’t the standard. Most drivers will need about a couple of days (roughly 40 hours) to charge a fully depleted electric car battery if they use the standard three-prong plugs found in mobile devices, laptops, and the walls of most homes.

Other Factors That Impact Electric Car Charging Time:

• Your battery’s size: Level 1 battery outlets (like the ones you use at home) charge at 120 volts, which typically provide up to 50 miles of driving range in about 10 hours. If you have more battery capacity (measured in kWh), you’ll need more time to charge your car battery fully.
• Is your battery empty or full?:  Drivers rarely charge their vehicles from an empty battery. They usually “top up” their batteries instead to lengthen the amount of time they can drive on a single charge, which generally saves drivers significant charging time.
• Your vehicle’s maximum charging rate: How much of a charge can your vehicle accept at once? Your vehicle’s maximum charge rate is static, so you won’t save any time by charging your battery at a more powerful charging station.
• The power of your charging station: Your charging time also depends on the maximum charging rate of the station you are using. Even if your car can charge at a higher rate, it will only charge at your charge point’s maximum power rate, which can adversely affect charging time.
• The weather in your area: Colder temperatures can affect vehicle efficiency, which can lengthen charging times, especially when using rapid chargers. Hot weather can also affect your electric car’s thermal management systems, which can affect its efficiency. Hot conditions can also test an electric vehicle’s internal resistance, rising as battery charges increase.

Here’s How Long It Takes to Charge an Electric Car

How long would it take to charge some of the leading electric cars on the road fully?

Use these approximate calculations based on a 240V Level 2 power source and charging capacity, according to the manufacturers’ websites for the following 2021 cars:

• Chevrolet Volt EV: 10 hours
• Nissan Leaf: Up to 11 hours
• Tesla Model S: 12 hours
• Karma GS-6: 4 hours
• Tesla Model 3: 12 hours
• Porsche Taycan: Up to 10.5 hours
• Mini SE Hardtop: 4 hours
• Audi E-Tron: 10 hours
• Polestar 2: 8 hours
• BMW i3: 7 hours