How long does it take to charge an electric car?

If you’ve just made the switch to electric, you can now charge or top up your car whenever you want – all from the comfort of your own home.

But exactly how long does it take to charge an electric car? Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.

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How to charge your electric car

It’s easy to charge your electric car at home or via the public network – and topping up an EV is not much different to charging your other battery devices.

However, although your car may plug into a regular home socket, this isn’t the most efficient way to fill up your vehicle. Instead, you may want to install a purpose-built home charger. This will charge your car a lot faster – and it can help you avoid fees at public network charging points on the go.

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How long do electric cars take to charge?

There are a few different charging speeds for your electric car: slow (3 to 6kW), fast (7 to 49kW), rapid (50 to 149kW) and ultrarapid (150kW). Your charging rate will determine how long it takes to fill up your battery.

You may find that charging in public is faster than charging at home, as many public EV charging stations offer rapid or ultrarapid charging options for drivers.

Let’s take a look at exactly how long it takes to charge at different charging rates, both at home and on the go.

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How long does it take to charge an EV at 150kW?

It should take around 20 to 40 minutes to charge your car at 150kW. This is considered ultrarapid charging and it’s a convenient choice if you need power in a hurry.

Charging at 150kW can add up to 200 miles of range in 30 minutes. However, not all vehicles can rapid charge. You’ll typically only be able to use 150kW charging at public EV charging points.

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How long does it take to charge at 22kW?

It takes roughly 3 to 4 hours to charge your car at 22kW, depending on the type and model of your vehicle. For some cars, such as the Volkswagen ID.5, it can take as long as 8 hours to fully charge at this rate.

Charging at 22kW is considered fast charging – and it will add roughly 37 to 50 miles of range per hour to your battery. Although you can charge your EV at 22kW at home, you may need a 3-phase electricity supply.

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How long does it take to charge a car at 7kW?

It takes between 4 to 8 hours to charge an electric car at 7kW. This is the standard speed for charging via an EV charger at home.

Exactly how long it takes to charge at 7kW will depend on whether your battery is empty or not. Like any other device, you’ll most likely do a combination of full, long charges and shorter top-ups for your EV.

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Why is my electric car taking so long to charge?

Many factors can affect the charging speed of your EV, including:

• battery level (empty vs full)
• size of your battery
• number of EV charging points in your home
• temperature – 15 to 35°C is typically optimal
• home charging vs public charge points

Your vehicle will have a maximum charge rate – and using a higher kilowatt charger won’t speed it up. For example, if your car has a maximum charge rate of 7kW, it won’t charge any faster at a 22kW charging point.

Your car may also take longer to charge if you have multiple electric vehicles on the same circuit or if you’re trying to charge an empty battery. To improve your EV charging speed, top up your battery regularly and always use the appropriate charger for your vehicle model.

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Understanding EV charging times

It’s easy to charge your electric vehicle at home or on the go. There are multiple different charging rates available – and you can choose to do a full charge or just a top-up.

7kW is the usual speed for home charging, but you can access ultrarapid 150kW charging at many public stations for a quick energy boost.

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If you need a battery top-up on the go, use EV Infinity to locate your local public charging station. Get directions, open a digital wallet and pay for your energy – all from just one handy app.