These are the power levels and, as a result, the speeds at which an electric car can be charged. Each type of charger has its own set of ports that are made for low-power or high-power use, AC or DC charging. In the following parts, we’ll discuss the main types of charge points and the different EV charging connectors.
Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers
- 50 kW DC charging in one of two types of electric vehicle charging connectors
- 43 kW AC charge on one type of connection
- 100+ kW DC ultra-rapid charge on one of two kinds of EV charging connectors
- All rapids have wires that are tied to them.
Ultra-rapid chargers are the quickest way to charge an electric vehicle. They are often found at rest stops on highways or near major roads. To Units high-power direct or alternating currents (DC or AC) are used.
To charge an electric car as quickly as possible depending on the type, you can charge an electric vehicle to 80% in as little as 10 to 15 minutes. On the other hand, a standard 50 kW fast charge point would take about an hour for the average new EV.
Power from a unit shows the fastest possible charging speed, but the car will slow down as the battery gets nearer to being fully charged. So, times are given for charging an EV to 80%, after which the speeds slow. This makes charging as efficient as possible and helps keep the battery safe.
All gadgets that can be charged quickly have charging cords attached, and only cars that can be charged quickly can be used for quick charging. Because the connectors have easy-to-recognize shapes (see pictures below), it’s easy to look up the specs for your model in the car’s instructions or by looking at the onboard outlet.
How long does a fast DC charger take to charge an electric car?
Rapid DC chargers give out 50 kW (125A) of power, comply with CHAdeMO or CCS charging standards, and are shown on our live desktop map by purple icons. These are the most popular fast EV charging stations and have been the standard for about ten years. Relying on the volume of the battery and how charged it was, to begin with, both connections can usually charge an EV to 80% in 20 minutes to an hour.
Tesla Superchargers
The Supercharger network lets Tesla car owners quickly charge their cars with DC power. Drivers can use a Tesla Type 2 plug or a Tesla CCS connection depending on the model. Up to 150 kW can be put into these. All Tesla models are made to work with Supercharger units, but many Tesla users use CCS or CHAdeMO adaptors, so they can also use public fast charging spots.
Drivers can use more of the UK’s fast charge stations by putting CCS charging on the Model 3 and upgrading older models. All Supercharger units have a Tesla Type 2 plug that can be used by users of the Model S and Model X. Drivers of the Tesla Model 3 must use the Tesla CCS plug, which is being added to all Supercharger stations over time.
Rapid AC chargers
Rapid AC chargers use the Type 2 charging standard and put out 43 kW (three-phase, 63A) of power. Rapid AC units can usually charge an EV to 80% in 20 to 40 minutes, based on the type and how charged the battery was, to begin with.
The Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are two EVs that use CHAdeMO fast charge. Models like the BMW i3, Kia e-Niro, and Jaguar I-Pace can use CCS. The Supercharger network can only be utilized by the Model X, Model 3, and Model S. On the other hand, only the Renault Zoe can get the most out of Rapid AC charging.
Fast chargers
- 7kW fast charging among the three types of electric vehicle charging connectors
- 22kW fast charging with any of three types of connectors
- 11kW fast charge on Tesla’s Destination network
- Units are either free or have wires that are tied to them.
Most fast chargers are set at either 7 kW or 22 kW (32A single-phase or three-phase). Most fast chargers use AC, but some networks have 25 kW DC chargers installed with CCS or CHAdeMO ports.
How long does a 7kW fast charger charge an electric car take?
Charging times depend on the unit speed and the car, but a suitable EV with a 40 kWh battery will be charged in 4–6 hours with a 7 kW charger and in 1–2 hours with a 22 kW charger. Fast chargers are usually in places where you will be stopped for an hour or more, like car parks, stores, and recreation centers.
Most fast-charging devices are 7 kW and don’t have cords, but some chargers at home and work do. A cable connected to the device can only be used with models with the same connection type. For example, a first-generation Nissan Leaf might have utilized a Type 1 tethered cable, but a second-generation Leaf couldn’t because it has a Type 2 outlet.
Untethered units can be used by any EV with the right cord because they are more mobile. The charging rate depends on the car’s onboard charger when using a fast charger. Not all types can accept 7 kW or more. These types can still be plugged in but only sketch as much power as the onboard charger can handle.
For instance, a Nissan Leaf with a 3.3 kW on-board charger can only pull up to 3.3 kW, actually if the fastest charge point is 7 kW or 22 kW. Like the Supercharger network, Tesla’s “destination” chargers can provide either 11 kW or 22 kW of power, but they can only be used by Tesla cars. Tesla has some standard Type 2 chargers at numerous of its destinations.
These chargers can be used by any plug-in model with the right connection. Nearly all EVs and PHEVs can charge on a Type 2 unit with the right cord. It is the most popular public charging point standard, and most plug-in car holders will have a cord with a Type 2 connector on the charger end.
Slow chargers
- Slow charge at 3 kW to 6 kW on one of four types of EV charging connectors
- Charging boxes are either freestanding or have cords that are tied to them.
- Charges from the wall and special chargers
- Home charging is often part of
Most slow-charging devices are rated at up to 3 kW, a round number covering most of them. Slow charging is done between 2.3 and 6 kW, but most slow charges are rated at 3.6 kW (16A). When a car is charging on a three-pin plug, it usually draws 2.3 kW (10A), while most lamp-post chargers have ratings at 5.5 kW because the equipment is already there. Some, however, are rated at 3 kW.
How long does a slow charger charge an electric car take?
Charging times rely on the charging unit and the EV, but on a 3 kW machine, a full charge usually takes between 6 and 12 hours. Most slow-charging units are freestanding, so a line is needed to connect the electric vehicle to the charge point.
Slow charging is a popular way to charge electric cars; many drivers do it at home while sleeping. But slow chargers don’t have just to be utilized at home. They can be utilized at the office or in public places. Slow public charge points are less common than fast ones because they take longer to charge.
They also tend to be older units. Slow charging can be done with a standard three-pin socket and a three-pin plug. Still, because EVs need more current and take longer to charge, it is highly recommended that people who need to charge their cars often at home or work have a dedicated EV charging unit by a certified installer.
At least one of the slow connections above can charge any plug-in EV with the right cord. Most home units had the same Type 2 outlet as public chargers, or they can be connected to a Type 1 connection if that’s what an EV needs.
