Charging time summary for EVs
Here you will find all the information about the range, charging time and plug type of the most important electric car models.
What is the range of my e-car and how long does it take to charge?
The range of electric cars currently varies from 120 kilometers to around 500 kilometers on a full charge. Depending on driving style, weather conditions and the age of the battery, this value can fluctuate somewhat. In particular, newer models such as the Mercedes-Benz EQC or the Hyundai Kona are suitable for longer journeys with their generous range.
The combination of battery capacity and charging power results in different charging times for each electric car and plug-in hybrid model. For you as a driver:in, it’s important to know how much time you should allow for charging.
Mercedes EQS 450 Electric Art
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range
Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor
Of course, personal driving pleasure stands and falls with the range. As an electric car driver:in, you are always concerned about being on the road with a sufficiently charged battery. Fortunately, a wallbox at home and the growing public charging network can give you peace of mind.
Besides that, our 5 pro tips will help you get the most out of your electric car range.
Electric Vehicle Charging Time Calculator
Estimate the time it will take to charge an electric vehicle by entering the battery capacity and charge level along with the charging power below.
Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
How to Estimate Charging Time
The time it takes to charge the battery of an electric vehicle varies on a few key factors. The charging power, battery size, and current charge level will all determine the charging time needed.
The capacity of an electric car battery is measured in the kilowatt-hours of energy it can hold. The charging power will determine the speed of the charge, and is measured in kilowatts.
To calculate the time it will take to charge an electric car, use the following formula.
charge time = battery capacity / charge power ×.9
In other words, the time it takes to charge in hours is equal to the size of the battery in kilowatt-hours divided by the charging power times.9, which is the average power efficiency.
For example, let’s estimate the time to charge a 2021 Tesla Model 3, which has a 50 kWh battery to capacity using a 3.7 kW home charger.
charge time = 50 kWh / 3.7 kW ×.9 charge time = 50 kWh / 3.33 charge time = 15.015 hours
Thus, it will take about 15 hours to charge a Tesla Model 3 to full capacity using a 3.7 kW charger.
Most often a battery has a partial charge, and charging from 0 to 100% is not necessary. It’s also possible to charge to a partial capacity, which can lower the time needed to charge.
Most home chargers are 7.7kWh or smaller, while public chargers are usually fast or Rapid chargers in the 11kW to 50kW range. It’s also becoming more common to see chargers delivering 100kW of charging power or more.
To learn more about the cost of charging an electric vehicle at home, check out our charging cost calculator.
Average Battery Charging Times
See the average time it takes to charge an electric vehicle battery to full capacity using various chargers in the chart below.
EV Charger Types
EV chargers are classified into three categories: Level 1, Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast chargers.
EV chargers are classified into three categories: Level 1, Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast chargers.
Important differences include:
- Input voltage. This is how much power a charger requires to operate and is expressed in volts.
- Power output. This is how much power a charger can generate and is expressed in kilowatts (kW).
- Charging speed. This is the number of miles added to the EV’s battery per hour of charging and depends on the charger’s power output.
- Equipment and installation cost. While basic EV chargers are inexpensive and can be plugged into a standard outlet, others have higher upfront equipment and must be installed professionally by an electric vehicle service provider (EVSP).
- EV power intake. Depending on your EV, the power output pulled from a charger (in kW) may be limited by how much the EV’s battery can withstand. Check your vehicle’s specifications to know which charging level your vehicle can use.
Numerous manufacturers produce EV chargers, with a variety of products, price points, applications and functionality. Because of these differences, it is important to choose an EV charger that fits your intended use and budget.
Direct Current Fast Charging
How fast is DC fast charging?
Depending on the EV, DC fast chargers can currently produce a 10-80% charge for a 300-mile range battery in approximately 20 minutes (~540 miles of electric drive per hour of charging).
What is the input voltage for a DC fast charger?
Currently available DC fast chargers require inputs of at least 480 volts and 100 amps, but newer chargers are capable of up to 1000 volt and 500 amps (up to 360 kW).
How much do DC fast chargers cost?
A CALeVIP Cost Data analysis found that the unit cost per charger for rebate recipients ranged from a minimum of 18,000 to a maximum of 72,500. The mean and median unit cost per charger was 29,135 and 23,000, respectively.
In addition to higher equipment costs, DC fast charger installations require a commercial electrician from the initial planning phase due to the electrical load and wiring requirements.
Is a DC fast charger the right EV charger for me?
DC fast chargers are the highest-powered EV chargers on the market. They often are used as range extenders along major travel corridors for long-distance trips and in urban environments to support drivers without home charging or very high mileage drivers. At current charging speeds, they are ideal for places where a person would spend 30 minutes to an hour, such as restaurants, recreational areas and shopping centers.
It is important to note that not every EV model is capable of DC fast charging, and therefore, they cannot be used by every EV driver. Further, DC fast chargers have multiple standards for connectors, whereas there is only one common standard for Level 1 and 2 charging (SAE J1772). DC fast chargers have three types of connectors: CHAdeMO, CCS and Tesla, though CCS is increasingly becoming the industry standard.
Level 2 Chargers
How fast is Level 2 charging?
A Level 2 charger can currently produce a full charge for a 300-mile range battery in about 6-8 hours and is perfect for destination and overnight charging.
What is the input voltage of a Level 2 charger?
Level 2 chargers typically require 220V or 240V service.
What is the power output of a Level 2 charger?
Level 2 chargers are available with a variety of power outputs from 3 kW to 19 kW, which can sometimes be adjusted.
How much do Level 2 chargers cost?
CALeVIP Cost Data show that rebate recipients reported average L2 equipment costs ranging from 685 to 6,626 per connector. The mean and median were 5000,976 and 5000,884 per connector, respectively.
Is a Level 2 charger the right EV charger for me?
Level 2 chargers are typical solutions for residential and commercial/workplace settings. Most offer higher power output than Level 1 chargers and have additional functionality.
Non-networked vs. networked chargers
In general, Level 2 chargers are distinguished between non-networked chargers and networked chargers.
Networked chargers have advanced capabilities, such as charge scheduling, load management and demand response. They are more common in commercial/workplace settings where payments are required or at multiunit dwellings (MUDs) where the property’s electricity bill is shared by multiple residents.
They may be designed for indoor or outdoor use (e.g., NEMA 3R, NEMA 6P, NEMA 4x rated).
Some models of networked chargers also can limit charging to certain hours, which allows the operator to maximize a time-of-use (TOU) electricity rate structure and only allow charging when electricity is the cheapest (usually sometime between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.). This type of control also increases the likelihood of participating in utility demand response programs.
Some of the enhanced features of a networked Level 2 charger include remote access/control via Wi-Fi or cellular connection, access control/ability to accept multiple forms of payment, load balancing across multiple chargers and more. Additionally, California will soon begin allowing the use of submeters already embedded within networked chargers to bill electricity use. For more information on submetering, visit the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website.
Non-networked Level 2 chargers are used both in single-family residences and MUDs. They may be designed for indoor or outdoor use (e.g., NEMA 3R, NEMA 6P, NEMA 4x rated). Non-networked Level 2 chargers are useful for installations at MUDs or commercial sites that are powered by the residents’ or tenants’ subpanels.
In this case, any electricity used by the chargers will be charged to the individual’s electricity bill, thus eliminating the need to separately meter the chargers. Further, when electrical capacity is available, non-networked Level 2 chargers are useful for site hosts that need higher power than Level 1 charging but do not have a large budget.
Other factors that affect charging time
Here are some of the other variables that affect your EVs charge speed:
- . ️ Ambient temperature – as cold batteries have a greater resistance to charging, cold weather can affect your EV’s charging speed considerably. It can also affect the battery’s range.
- . Hour of the day – charging your EV during peak hours will result in a slower charge, as more energy is drawn from the grid.
- ⚡ Number of EVs connected – this is something that affects public-use EV chargers, rather than household chargers. If the accumulated maximum charging power of the EVs and chargers exceeds the maximum amount of power delivered by the charging station, the charging speed will be affected
- . EV’s battery level – if an EV’s battery is below 20% or above 80%, the charge speed may be half as much as usual. This is an in-built feature by EV manufacturers to optimize battery life and prevent overcharging.
- . Type of charge cable – different types of charge cables include Type 1, Type 2 and CHAdeMO, all of which charge at different speeds
- . Avoid dropping below 20% – letting your battery get too depleted can also affect its longevity. Using a Smart charger will enable you to make sure your EV battery never drops below 20%.
- . Use it! – EV batteries aren’t affected by overuse. In fact, they are more likely to be affected by sitting in a garage for long periods of time. So, get out there and drive!