How long does it take to charge my EV?
Charging time depends on your car's maximum charging speed, the power output of the charger you're using, and how depleted the battery is — so there's no single answer that applies to every EV.
Rough guide by charger type:
- Home/slow (up to 7kW) — typically 6–12+ hours for a full charge, depending on battery size; suits overnight charging
- Fast public (7–22kW) — a few hours, commonly used at destinations like shopping centres or workplaces
- Rapid/ultra-rapid (50kW+) — often 20–60 minutes for a significant top-up (commonly 10–80%), depending on the vehicle's maximum charging capability
A few things that affect speed in practice:
- Every EV has a maximum charging rate it can accept — plugging into a faster charger than your car supports won't speed things up beyond your car's own limit
- Charging speed typically slows down considerably above around 80% battery, to protect the battery — which is why rapid charging stops are often described in terms of 10-80% rather than 0-100%
- Battery temperature and outside temperature can also affect charging speed, particularly in cold weather
Your vehicle's specification sheet or owner's manual will list its maximum charging rate for both AC (home/destination) and DC (rapid) charging, which is the figure to check against any charger you're planning to use regularly.