Electric cars are becoming progressively famous among drivers who want cars that are good for the environment and look cool. People buy them instead of going to gas stores to save money. Charging points in shopping centers, office buildings, and other public places are making owning and keeping electric cars (EVs) easier and cheaper.
Also, the federal government gives tax breaks of up to $7,500 to people who buy or lease certain new or used cars. There are also rewards for people who buy used electric cars. But charging these high-tech electric cars could make them less popular if there aren’t enough charging sites or if it takes too long to charge them. Even harsh weather, like temperatures below zero or high heat, can make it hard for drivers to charge their cars.
Factors That Affect EV Charging Time
Different things can affect how long it takes to charge. What gives you energy? How much power can you put into your electric car? Using a Level 3 fast charger, some drivers can get their electric cars to 80% charge in as little as 15 to 30 mins, depending on how they charge and how big their batteries are.
Sadly, that’s not what most people do. If they use the standard three-prong plugs found in most houses, most drivers will need at least a full day to charge a completely dead electric car battery.
Other factors that affect the time it takes to charge an electric car:
- Your battery’s size: Level 1 outlets, like those you use at home, are the slowest at charging car batteries. If your car has a bigger battery (measured in kWh), it will take longer to charge it fully.
- Your vehicle’s maximum charging rate: How much power can your car take in all at once? Your car’s highest charge rate is fixed, so charging your battery at a more powerful station won’t save you time.
- The power of your charging station: Your charging time will also depend on how fast your charging station can charge. Even if your car can charge faster, it will only charge at the highest power rate of your charging station. This will slow the charging time.
- Your area’s weather: Lower temperatures can hurt how well a car works, making it take longer to charge, especially when using a fast charger. On the other hand, hot weather can affect your electric car’s heat control systems and performance. When it’s hot, an electric car’s interior resistance can also be tested, which goes up as the battery charges.
- Is your battery empty or full?: Drivers barely charge their cars when the battery is dead. Most of the time, they “top up” their batteries rather than extend how long they can drive on a single charge. This saves drivers a lot of time when it comes to charging. Matt DeLorenzo, an expert on cars, says your car is like a bubble if it’s necessary to charge it when it has less than 20% or more than 80% charge. “It’s hard to get the first few puffs of air into a balloon, and it’s the same when it’s almost full,” said DeLorenzo, the writer of “How to Purchase an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Way to EV Ownership.” He also said, “It’s the same with an electric vehicle. Pushing current into the battery takes more energy, so the charge time goes down.
Your Power Source to Charge
To figure out how long it will require to charge your car, start with the power source in your home. The power that is charged by a Level 1 power source is the least, whereas Level 2 chargers, which may be connected into outlets used by dryers, can charge twice as much power.
To put a Level 2 charger at home, you will need a plumber and a suitable connection, which is not the case with Level 1 charges. Splitvolt, a company based in California, has also made splitters that allow EV users to use a regular home garage plug without any special installs.
Level 3 chargers send a direct current with high power straight to the car’s battery. But not every electric car can be charged with these chargers. Also, they are costly and difficult to find outside public places like stores and parking lots. Level 3 charge methods are available on cars from Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Tesla, among others.
Companies like Electrify America and SparkCharge started making DCFCs for cars that could use them around that time. Many cars that can’t use DCFCs choose the combined charge method (CCS). CCS combines Level 1 and Level 2 chargers to boost the power of its power sources.
Your car’s charging ability
When you figure out how long it will take to charge your car, you should also consider how much it can be charged. To figure out the best time to charge your electric car, divide the battery capacity (in kWh) by the power level of your car’s onboard charger, then add 10% to the loss of power caused by charging.
For instance, the 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range includes an 11.5-kW charger and a 75-kWh battery pack. Using a Level 2 charger will take about 6.5 hours to charge this car fully. The Tesla Supercharger can charge at 250 kW, which cuts the time it takes to charge to about 15 to 25 minutes.
What You Should Know About Charging Fast
It seems easy and useful to charge quickly or quickly. Even the quickest charging time can slow down when the battery is less than 20% full or more than 80% full. This maintains the battery from getting too charged and keeps it in good shape.
Many companies measure the charging period by how long it takes DCFCs to charge a battery to 80%. Rapid charging is also getting easier to use, thanks to plans from Electrify America and other organizations still working to build up the charging infrastructure across the country.
Top-Up Charging
If you’ve always driven a car with a standard gasoline engine, you’ve topped off or filled the gas tank before the E on the gas gauge. It makes sense. No one wants to run out of gas, particularly during a long trip. The best way for the battery to work is when it isn’t below 20% or above 80%.
Many car companies tell you not to charge your car’s batteries when it’s hot out because charging and heat can hurt your electric car’s temperature management and inner resistance systems. Over time, that could hurt how well your car works.
Here’s exactly how long it requires for an electric car to charge.
How long would it take to completely charge several of the best electric cars on the road? For those with 2022 and 2023 cars, use these figures for how long it will take to charge according to a Level 2 charger:
- 2022 Porsche Taycan (Performance Plus): 10 hours
- 2022 Tesla Model 3: Up to eight hours
- 2022 Tesla Model S: Up to twelve hours
- 2023 Audi Q4 e-Tron: Nine hours
- 2023 BMW iX: under ten hours.
- 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV: ten hours.
- 2023 Mini SE Hardtop: five hours
- 2023 Nissan Leaf: 7.5–11 hours
- 2023 Polestar 2: eight hours
