If you are planning on purchasing an Electric Vehicle (EV) you will want to find out how long does it take to charge an electric car. Electric vehicles are gaining popularity, although they are more expensive to purchase but can be much cheaper to run and more efficient than gasoline or fuel cars.
What determines how long does it take to charge an electric car or the charging speed of your car are: the size of your battery, battery status (full vs empty), the charging rate of your vehicle, charging rate of the charger and the weather condition.
Other factors that will determine how long does it take to charge an electric car is the charger type or brand, charger’s age and condition and the vehicle’s age and condition.
How Many Volts Is A Car Battery
How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Car
A fast charging (400V+) unit often found at a commercial highway station, will take between 30 minutes – 1 hour to fully charge an electric car.
While a 240V charging unit which is commonly found at home and in a public setup can take about 4 hours to 10 hours to fully charge an electric car.
And the slow 120V charging unit which is ideal for a plug in hybrid electric cars (5 hours to 6 hours) and overnight top-ups (8 hours to 12hours). It will take the 120V charging unit between (2 days to 3 days) to fully charge an electric car.
Factors that can affect how long does it take to charge an electric car or the charging speed:
Size of Battery: A fast charge will not work for battery with an 8KWh hybrid car battery unlike the 60kWh battery that can fast charge
Battery condition: it will take longer to charge an empty battery than charging a half full battery.
Charging rate of vehicle: The maximum charging rate designed by the car’s manufacturer can affect the charging speed of your car even with fast charging.
Charging rate of charging unit: Using a 120v charging unit to charge a car battery of 60kWh will take a longer time to charge. The 240V and 400V+ give a more powerful charge to your car battery.
Weather: Charging is more efficient in a warm temperature than a cold temperature. And will take a longer time to fully charge during cold temperature.
How long does it take to charge up an electric car at a charging station?
The 240 volts AC or level 2 charging unit and 400V to 1000V DC or level 3 charging unit are both ideal for use at a charging station.
It can take 4 hours – 10 hours to charge a fully electric car and 1 hour – 2 hours to charge an hybrid car on a 240V charging unit. A DC 400V – 1000V fast charging unit can take between 20 minutes to 1 hour to fully charge an electric car.
The Direct current (DC) fast chargers (400V+) are commonly used at charging stations. The fast chargers adds 50kW – 350kW power output to a 60kWh battery in less than an hour adding an electric range of between 180 – 240 mile per charging hour.
Note: Fast charge works till 80 percent and can take longer to charge fully as charging speed slows down when close to full to prevent battery damage.
How far will an electric car go on a full charge?
An electric car on a full charge can travel above 100 miles while an hybrid car can travel less than 100 miles. Depending on the car model and type of battery.
Are electric cars cheaper to run than petrol?
Electric cars are cheaper and more efficient to run than petrol cars. Electric cars are easy to charge, as you can do this at home or at work, thereby reducing trips to the gas station.
Electricity is much cheaper than fuel, and it costs about $6 to drive 200 miles on an average in the USA.
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