How long does it take to charge an electric car?

This blog will take you through the variables necessary to factor in when considering how long it takes to charge an electric car. While there is no single answer, on average, it takes a typical electric vehicle with a 60kWh battery under 8 hours to charge from empty-to-full with a 7kW charge point. Despite this, most EV drivers avoid charging from 0 to 100%, instead opting for the more convenient top-up charging method.

But what is top-up charging, and how can it benefit businesses commercially? Read on to find out…

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

In just a decade, we have seen such a huge, sudden adoption of electric vehicles. And over time, battery technology has also improved—with quantum physics coming into play with new theories of faster charging strategy.

The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle completely depends on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging point itself. It can vary from as little as 30 minutes, to as long as 12 hours. For example, a 50kw rapid charger can add up to 100 miles of range in around 35 minutes—but every model of car is different.

Below, we’ve put together a table showing some of the most popular EV models and the time it takes to charge from empty to full, with different charger speeds.

Vehicle Empty-to-full charging time

Model	Battery	3.6kW slow	7kW fast	22kW fast	43-50kW rapid	150kW rapid
Tesla Model 3	55-82kWh	15-22 hours	8-12 hours	5-8 hours	40 mins - 1 hour	20 minutes
Kia e-Niro	64kWh	18 hours	9 hours	9 hours	50 mins	30 mins
Volkswagen ID.3	55-82kWh	15-22 hours	8-12 hours	6-8 hours	40 mins - 1 hour	20 - 30 mins
Nissan Leaf	40kWh	11 hours	6 hours	6 hours	1 hour	N/A

TIP: It’s worth noting that the real road range may differ from the company’s official amount—so bear this in mind when noting electric car charging time!

Remember, all electric cars can charge on compatible charge points, even those with a higher maximum charge rate—they just charge at their own maximum rate.

There are many types of EV chargers suited towards businesses, so it can get convoluted trying to decide on one option. It’s important to think about the needs of your customers—a smart, future-proof charge point is necessary. Whether wall-mounted or freestanding, fast or rapid, single socket or twin, a credible EV installer can talk you through your options and help you decide on the best choice for your premises.

What else can impact charging time?

Miles of range added per hour of charging

3.7kW slow	7kW fast	22kW fast	43-50kW rapid	150kW rapid
15 miles max	30 miles max	90 miles max	90 miles max in 30 minutes	200 miles max in 30 minutes

How much range per hour of charging…

There are multiple factors that can affect charging speed and should be taken into account when considering whether an EV will have enough charge to make it to its next destination.

Battery size

The bigger the electric car’s battery capacity, the longer it will take for it to be fully charged.

The state of the battery

Topping up your vehicle from 0 to 100% will take much longer than it would to top up from 50% to 100%.

Environmental factors

Particularly relevant for rapid chargers, colder weather conditions can slightly affect the time it takes to charge the battery, as well as reducing the efficiency of the vehicle.

The efficiency of your electric car

Efficiency is affected by the size of the battery, with smaller full batteries (such as that of the Renault Zoe) being the most efficient. Bigger full batteries are heavier and therefore less efficient.

The maximum charging rate of both the battery and the vehicle

An electric vehicle’s battery can only be charged at the maximum rate the car is designed to accept. For instance, for a vehicle with a maximum charge rate of 7kW, using a 22kW charge point won’t make it charge any faster.

Additionally, a vehicle with a capacity of 11kW can still only charge at 7kW at a 7kW charge point.

What is this method of charging, and why is it so popular? Similar to phone and laptop charging, EV drivers plug in to charge their vehicles whenever they park somewhere throughout the day—whether it’s at home during the night, or while completing daily tasks.

What is top-up charging?

People usually only stay at certain venues for a general amount of time. If their electric car is completely depleted, but they’ve stopped at a fast food place, it’s unlikely that they’ll hang around 6 hours for a full charge. This method makes use of available time and ensures that the electric vehicle is never completely low on juice. As well as benefiting the drivers themselves, commercial properties such as supermarkets and hotels can also hugely benefit from top-up charging…

Creates an additional revenue stream for your business, i.e. hotels
Allows your premises to become a more attractive option for EV drivers
Improves the customer experience by providing a convenient service
Reach your sustainability goals and make a difference to the environment

Is electric car charging time important?

Knowing exactly how long it will take to charge your EV can alleviate range anxiety and ease EV drivers’ minds. However, many drivers are more focused on how many miles of range they have available rather than how long it will take to charge. Charging in short bursts, often, is likely to become the predominant method of charging—at least until larger batteries are developed.

The earlier you adopt chargers at your business, the bigger your chance is of becoming EV drivers’ chosen destination over your competition. So, ultimately, you shouldn’t delay installing EV charge points on your premises if you want to benefit from the advantages that top-up charging can bring to your business.

Our guide to commercial ev funding

For more information on the costs involved in EV charger investment and ways that you can get support for funding, have a look at our free guide: The Complete Guide to Commercial EV Funding.