How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle?

Over the past ten years, there has been a sharp increase in the use of electric cars and electric transportation, and this trend doesn’t appear to be decelerating. Whatever the measure, the age of internal combustion automobiles is about to expire. An advantage of operating an electric vehicle is its improved handling and instantaneous torque. Additionally, EVs have much lower maintenance costs than conventional ICE vehicles. And, let’s face it, you’ll become used to charging easily anywhere you park more rapidly than you would with a usual charging session.

Electric Vehicle Charging Basics

So, the first question that has to be answered in this part on the fundamentals of charging an electric car is, “How is an electric vehicle typically charged?”

Plugging into a charging point and using the grid’s power allows electric automobiles to run. They use rechargeable batteries to conserve electricity and use an electric motor to drive the wheels. Electric vehicles seem easier to drive because they accelerate more quickly than conventionally powered automobiles.

How Much Time Does It Take To Charge An Electric Vehicle?

Charging Time

	3 kW	11kW	50kW
18 kWh	6 Hours	1 Hour 30 Minutes	22 Minutes
40 kWh	13+ Hours	3 Hours 30 Minutes	48 Minutes
100 kWh	33+ Hours	5 Hours	2 Hours,

Depending on a number of factors, including the size of your individual car’s battery and where and when you choose to charge, EV charging speeds range from zero to up to 40 hours, or to put it in simple terms, the average length of time to charge electric vehicles is 20 minutes to 40 hours (approximately).

If you have access to public charging stations, then this process may be faster. If you are charging your vehicle at home, make sure to use a high-speed wall charger that is rated for rapid charging. And if you’re traveling with your electric car, always bring along extra batteries in case there is an opportunity to recharge while on the road.

Take, for example, an electric car. The minimum time for it to charge would be around 30 minutes, with a maximum charge time of touching 40 hours. All this depends, as said on the size of the battery, and the speed of the charging point.

An electric car with a 100kWh battery would take up to 5 hours and 5 minutes to charge from empty to full using an 11kW charging point, whereas an electric car with a 40kWh battery would take around 3 hours 30 minutes. 1 hour and 30 minutes for an 18 kWh with the same 11kW. If the kW is lower, the charging time will be longer. A 3kW charging point, for example, would require four to five times as much as an 11kW charging point. That is, it would take 6 hours for an electric car with an 18kWh battery, 13 hours for a 40kWh battery, and 33 hours for a 100kWh battery. It should also be noted that the larger the size of your vehicle’s battery and the slower the charging point, the longer it will take to charge from zero to full.

However, let’s not overlook the fact that charging an electric vehicle involves multiple stages, and the timing varies from level to level. Here is a brief description of what each charge level can do.

Electric Vehicle Charging Levels

There are several different subcategories of charge. The concept of charging levels is the most common way to conceptualize EV charging. Three levels of charging stages are present for electric vehicle charging. Typically, the greater the level, the more power output, and the quicker your brand-new car will charge.

The output power and charging speed of your new car will generally increase as the level rises. The kind of battery in the automobile, its capacity for charging, and the power output of the charging point are all factors that affect how long it takes to charge.

LEVEL-1

When you use a regular AC power plug to plug your electric vehicle into the socket, you are doing level 1 charging. The quickest method to charge an EV is using a Level 1 charger, which provides just 6 to 8 kilometers of range per hour. This is because a typical residential outlet can only offer a limit of 2.3 kW (4 to 5 miles). This approach is not only sluggish but can also be risky for your safety and the security of your car because there is no connection between the electrical outlet and the vehicle. As a result, it is not recommended to use Level 1 charging to recharge your car unless it’s necessary.

LEVEL-2

Any normal AC charging station that is either fixed to a wall, perched on a pole, or freestanding is referred to as a Level 2 charger. Residential, open parking, corporate, and commercial centres frequently include level 2 charging stations, which typically produce between 3.4 kW and 22 kW. Your battery’s range will increase by around 120 km (75 miles) in an hour of recharging at the highest power of 22 kW. Compared to Level 1 charging, this is a lot quicker. Many EV owners choose to invest in a household AC charging station for this purpose, in addition to the variety of clever capabilities, smart networking choices, and spectrum of security considerations that Level 2 chargers have to offer.

LEVEL-3

Level 3 charging, sometimes referred to as DC or rapid charging bypasses the internal AC/DC converter and uses a current source to recharge a car’s batteries directly. This enables Level 3 adapters to provide the battery with DC power directly. Level 3 charging stations can thus offer more power, which makes them perfect for quick-stop places like fuel stations and fleet bases. Level 3 chargers take average time to charge a car in minutes as opposed to Level 2 or Level 1 charging stations, which can take hours or even days to complete. The length of time it takes to charge a vehicle varies based on its power output.

Also Read: Are electric vehicles really better for the environment?

Electric Vehicle Charging Capacity

Lithium-ion batteries, like the ones in your phone, are typically used in electric car batteries. Rechargeable EV batteries must be linked to a power source, such as a charger, in order to receive electricity. Once your battery is fully charged, your car’s electric engine and wheels are powered by this energy.

Mercedes claims to have a massive 453-mile range on a single charge, demonstrating the constant efforts made by EV manufacturers to increase the range and capacity of their vehicle models. In kWh (Kilowatt hours), lithium-ion battery capacity is expressed. The typical capacity is about 40 kWh, but some newer automobiles can hold up to 100 kWh. Your car’s range will directly depend on the size of its battery. The greater the kWh value, the more kilometers you can go on a single charge. Nissan, for example, claims that the 40kWh battery in its Leaf model will provide a range of 168 miles. Once more, it’s important to keep in mind that different electric car models have different charging capacities. And, to learn more about the benefits of electric vehicles based on their types and what they have to offer, we’ve created a blog post that answers all of your questions. Take a look at it to understand why you should switch to EVs without a second thought, besides knowing the importance of the charging time or how long it takes to charge the electric car.

Factors That Impact EV Charging Time

1. Battery for an electric vehicle

It will take more time to charge a larger battery. Simple, yes? Kilowatt-hours (kWh), which are equivalent to a litre or a gallon but for electricity, are used to quantify the battery’s status of charge in electric vehicles. One kWh is the amount of energy required to power a 1,000-watt device for one hour. Most electric passenger car batteries on the market today have a capacity of 25 to 100 kWh when completely charged.

And when talked about the longevity of the EV batteries, they are said to last for a whopping up to twenty years, and will not need any change. However, as per some studies, the best average lifespan on an EV battery is 17 years, meaning a near total of 200,000 miles, covering 12,000 miles per year.

2. Stages of charging

Although it may seem obvious, the amount of energy your car has when you start your charging period also affects how long it takes to charge. The amount of time it takes to charge differs based on whether you’ve got half a tank or are nearly out, much like when you put petrol in a conventional car.

3. Weather circumstances

The weather will also impact when devices will charge. It will take longer to fully charge a car in freezing or exceptionally warm weather since batteries perform more effectively in warm conditions, such as between 20 and 25 °C (68 and 77°F).

Also Read: Different Types of Electric Vehicle Charging Connectors

Driving an EV, or more precisely, charging one, is an entirely different experience for individuals who are thinking of purchasing their first electric car or those who have already purchased one. To help you feel more comfortable making the move to electric mobility, we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions concerning electric vehicle charging basics in this article.

FAQs on EV charging

1. How much range do you get per hour of charging?
The main worry that prospective EV customers have is “Range Anxiety,” or the worry that they may run out of energy mid-trip and be trapped. At a Level 2 charging station, the majority of EVs typically obtain roughly 25 miles per charge hour.

Although EV driving distances vary widely, the current standard is about 331 km. Based on these typical figures, your EV would only require a full charge about once per week. Of course, you’ll need to plug in more frequently if you drive longer or if your car’s range is drastically reduced. Even then, EVs frequently go for many days without needing to be recharged.

2. How are EV charging fees handled?
Your energy bill will be updated when your EV uses electricity while charging at home. It operates differently to pay for public charges. Frequently, you have the option of paying immediately with a card or an app or having your charges invoiced on a contractual or subscription basis every month.

3. Does my electric car need to be charged every night?
The ideal strategy is to only charge the car when necessary and to keep the battery capacity between 20 and 80 percent. An electric car’s battery pack may not last as long if it is regularly charged at night. There is no need to worry about continually charging an electric automobile because it can endure prolonged periods of inactivity far better than combustion-powered vehicles.

4. How much upkeep does an EV charger require?
The most frequent maintenance required for Level 1 and Level 2 home chargers is a fast inspection to make sure the connections and plugs are in excellent condition. These chargers are intended to endure for years with regular usage before needing maintenance. It is advised to get in touch with your supplier if you have any issues with your charging point.

The amount of upkeep necessary for publically available level 2 or level 3 chargers varies on where and how they are used. To examine for damage and guarantee proper operation, connections, adapters, and the chargers themselves should all undergo routine inspections. Software systems, card or RFID scanners, and touch displays all require routine maintenance and updating.

Manufacturers of chargers typically charge an annual fee for extended warranties and service plans, which cover routine servicing and speedy fixes in the event of a problem. Modern chargers now come with additional connection and modularity characteristics, making it possible to diagnose issues remotely in many cases.

Conclusion

Imagine having an endless supply of fuel readily accessible at home or wherever you typically park, eliminating the need to ever stop at a gas station. This is a fact for many drivers of electric vehicles. For short distances, plug-in hybrids may not even need petrol, while all-electric vehicles require no fuel at all.

When you have a plug at home, charging an electric car is quick, affordable, and convenient you can even charge it while you’re asleep. The charging system, the size of the car’s battery, and the amount of charging capacity all affect how long it takes to charge. Although most electric car owners charge at home, public and workplace chargers are becoming more prevalent in localities around the country.

To help you, we already have you covered with some of the best EV charging apps that you may use to charge your vehicles with ease, no matter where you are, and how busy. Do read through the linked blog post, as well as this, and do share your comments.