Electric cars are becoming increasingly common nowadays. Their quiet operation and low emissions set them apart from internal combustion engine vehicles. The cost of charging an electric vehicle is also negligible compared to that of a gasoline or diesel car, and the gap is likely to only widen in the future. The main drawback of an electric car is the lack of infrastructure for charging it. But with many options for charging an electric car, it’s time to revisit the idea of how and how long they are charged.
PLACES TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC CAR
There is a wide variety of options for charging an electric vehicle, whereas it was previously limited to a few charging stations. Home charging points were a luxury in the past, but they are more affordable than ever, with the companies producing them usually providing the installation service at no extra cost. A home wallbox is therefore a viable option for people who have off-street parking and their own residence. Public charging stations remain essential, of course, even if they are no longer as subsidized as before. Private company charging stations form a kind of category between domestic and public charging stations. The charging points of a company that allow its employees to charge their electric cars are generally not accessible to the public, but those of businesses catering to customers, such as department stores or furniture stores, may offer the possibility to charge vehicles in their parking lots, occasionally waiving the fee if purchases are high enough.
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
This is determined by many different factors, but the two most important are the specifics of the charging station and the electric car. Charging stations have maximum outputs that determine how quickly they can supply electrical energy, while different electric cars have different limits on how much electricity they can receive and differ in battery capacity, and thus in the amount of electricity needed for a full charge.
The typical electric vehicle has a battery capacity of 60 kWh and can be fully charged in about 8 hours from a charging station with a 7 kW charging power. The calculation here is simple: divide the capacity by the charging rate to get the number of hours needed to charge the electric car. However, cars vary considerably in capacity. The first-generation Nissan Leaf typically has a capacity of 24 kWh, while the Jaguar I-Pace is equipped with batteries that can hold up to 100 kWh of energy. Using a slow charger will charge the Leaf in 8 hours, while the I-Pace needs more than a day to reach full capacity from a depleted battery.
| Type | Charging Rate | Full Charge Time 60 kWh |
| Standard Plug | 2kW | 30h |
| Slow Charger | 3kW | 20h |
| Fast Charger | 7kW | 8.6 hours |
| Rapid Charger | 120 – 350kW | Less than 1h* |
*Rapid chargers charge so quickly that most cars cannot benefit from the maximum charging speed.
The different types of chargers are as follows:
It is evident that there are many factors that determine how long it takes to charge a car. This impacts the cost of charging an electric car, but other variables need to be considered here. First, it depends on whether the electric car is charged in public or privately.
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC CAR IN PUBLIC
The charging time for an electric car at a service station naturally depends on the type of charger available. Most public charging points are fast chargers, although many have rates up to three times higher than the standard 7 kW. With a car that can accept charges at that speed and a capacity of 60 kWh, a full charge can be achieved in about 8 hours, and recharging will be significantly faster. However, some stations offer rapid charging above 50 kW and can recharge cars capable of receiving such high electricity flows in less than an hour. It is important to note that the time needed to charge an electric car at a charging station involves the widest range of variables to consider, starting from the station’s charging rate and ending with the car’s intake rate and capacity.
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC CAR AT HOME
If you’re wondering how to charge your electric car at home, the answers are quite simple: given that the range of charging rates available for private households is between 3 and 7 kW, the choice is not as difficult. Ultimately, it depends on your car’s capacity and your driving habits. Occasional drivers can get by with a slow charger, while those who significantly drain their car’s charge may need a fast charger. Having a charger at home allows you to charge your car overnight, so being able to charge it for up to 8 hours is rarely a problem. Smart chargers can even be programmed to charge only at certain times, for example when electricity rates are lowest.
COSTS TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC CAR
There can be considerable differences in the amount a car owner pays to charge their vehicle. Ultimately, the cost of charging an electric car heavily depends on where it happens. Charging a car at home is usually the cheapest and only costs the amount of electricity used. Public stations may charge at different rates (the era of free charging is over), but some offer manufacturer subscription services or allow customers of stores like IKEA to charge their vehicles for free (or receive a refund) when shopping there.