This is the question electric car owners ask the most. It all depends on the electric car charger for home you own, or whether you are googling ‘EV chargers near me’ for charging your electric vehicle at the EV charging station. It definitely isn’t a simple question to answer, but if you know all the variables it may help you comprehend better the estimated time for an electric car charger to charge your EV.
It is very unflattering to ask this question because different instances affect charging time. The most important things affecting charging time are:
- Battery size
- Battery status
- Charging rate of EV
- Power of charging station
- Environmental factors
Battery Size
Electric cars come with different battery sizes. They are not made the same for every electric vehicle. The lower budget electric vehicles come with smaller batteries. This type of electric vehicles are for daily drivers’ needs. But if you need an EV for long distances you will need an EV with a substantially bigger battery. Bigger batteries do require more electric car charger time, but as the technologies advance so does battery charging time. The charging time will become shorter in the future.
Battery Status
Electric car owners do not usually charge their electric cars from an empty point, the situation is that they always top it up which results in faster charging time. You do not want to be stuck in traffic with an empty battery, so just topping it up at work or at home with an electric car charger for home will result in faster charging. Many manufacturers recommend that the battery level doesn’t go below 20% and higher than 80%. Which basically means topping-up your vehicle is more time-efficient and it will give your battery a longer life. On the other hand topping-up at extreme temperatures can affect the thermal management systems and result in car issues you do not want.
Charging rate of EV
If your vehicle charge rate is 7kw maximum, you can’t charge your electric vehicle faster by using a 22kw charger point. Electric car charger maximum rate is fixed and you can’t speed it up by using a more powerful charging point.
Power of Charging Station
Charging time depends on the maximum charging rate of the electric car charger for home or public charging stations. By googling ‘EV chargers near me’ you can find suitable chargers for maximum electric car charger experience. If your electric car can charge at 11kw, it will charge 7kw on the electric car for home chargers whose maximum rate is at 7kw, this can adversely affect charging time.
There are Level 1, Level 2 and Fast chargers.
Level 1 chargers are the slowest since you charge your vehicle from a house outlet. Charging time goes as long as 40-50h and 5-6h for plug in hybrids.
Level 2 chargers are most commonly used as electric car chargers for home. Usually the most efficient charging time. The charging time ranges from 4-8h for electric vehicles to 1-2h to plug in hybrids
Fast charging or DC Fast charging is the fastest. It can charge an electric vehicle in 20-30 minutes.
Environmental Factors
Charging time will depend slightly on the weather temperatures. If it is cold outside it will take a bit longer to charge, since the vehicles are commonly less efficient during winter. Hot conditions also impact charging time and vehicle efficiency.
Summary
- With level 1 charger typical power output is 3-7kw. Estimated time for a plug in hybrid is 5-6 hours. Location of charging is typically home. The range per hour if charging is 2-5 miles. For an electric car charging time with level 1 charger is 40-50 hours, at home, also 2-5 miles per hour estimated electric range per hour.
- With level 2 charger typical power output is 11kw -22kw. Estimated time of charging for a plug-in hybrid is 1-2 hours, and the range per hour of charging is 10-20 miles. Usual locations of charging are home, workplace and public charging stations. For an electric vehicle charging time with level 2 is 4-10 hours, electric rate per hour of charging is 10-20 miles and place of charging is home, workplace or a public charging station.
- DC fast chargers have typical output 43-50kw. For now it doesn’t support plug-in hybrids. Estimated time of charging for electric cars is 20 minutes to an hour. Range per hour of charging is 180-240 miles. Place of charging is public charging stations.
There are many factors to consider if you are thinking of going electric. Have extensive conversations with electric car owners, electric car dealers and charger dealers or manufacturers. Ask any possible question you might think of in order for you to choose the best options to suit you and your lifestyle.
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