How long does it take to charge an electric car?

As the world transitions to more sustainable ways of living, more and more people are deciding to invest in an electric car, van or motorbike as their main set of wheels. 

And this trend shows no signs of slowing down. Global EV sales are predicted to reach 44 million units by 2035 (up from 7.3 million units in 2022), as leaders from the UK, EU member states, and the USA all publish ambitious targets to decarbonise their transport sectors.

But, as the number of EV drivers in the UK continues to grow, so too does the question of electric vehicle practicality. One of the biggest questions asked by both current and prospective EV owners is how long it will take to charge their car.

In this guide, we take an in-depth look at the charging times of electric vehicles, exploring the factors that can impact how long it takes to charge an EV, along with ways that EV owners can maximise the driving range of their vehicles.

How long do electric cars take to charge?

On average, it takes around 8 hours to charge an electric car from empty to full. However, there are several different ways to charge an electric car and the speed at which your vehicle charges will depend on what type of EV charger you’re using, whether you’re charging your electric car at home or if you’re using a public charger.

Here are the different ways of charging your electric vehicle.

1. Slow charging

As the name suggests, slow charging points take the longest amount of time to recharge your electric vehicle, typically because they operate at lower power ratings.

They tend to come with lower kW ratings (usually between 2.3kW and 2.5kW). At this rate, it can take upwards of 14 hours to recharge an EV’s battery from flat to full, which is significantly longer than other charging infrastructure.

Think of it in terms of a bathtub. It’s going to take you far longer to fill up your tub if you only have one of the taps open halfway than if you had both taps fully open. The same goes for EV batteries; it takes longer for them to recharge if the electric supply is running at a lower rate.

Sometimes, people also use the term ‘slow EV charger’ when talking about a 3-pin plug that you use with standard domestic wall sockets. It’s worth noting, though, that manufacturers only recommend using this charging method in an emergency, as running that level of current through domestic power outlets can be a fire hazard.

2. Fast charging

As electric vehicles become increasingly popular amongst UK drivers, EV manufacturers are working to produce ever more efficient charging solutions, knowing that their customers don’t want to be stuck waiting around for their cars or vans to recharge.

And EV owners have been quick to take advantage of this, with an estimated 84% now having their own fast, 7kW charging points installed at home. 

Fast chargers are also what you’ll find at public charging stations, such as those in supermarket car parks, shopping centres, retail parks and petrol station forecourts. These chargers typically operate at 22kW, making them even speedier (but more expensive) to use than the one you have at home.

On average, it’ll take you between 4 and 6 hours to recharge an EV with a 7kW fast charger, which is well over 50% quicker than a slow charger. With a 22kW charger, the charging time decreases further, taking no more than a few hours to refill your EV’s battery.

3. Rapid and ultra-rapid charging

If you’re on the go and time is of the essence, rapid chargers can save the day. These EV chargers operate using huge amounts of power, with 43kW and 50kW ratings being fairly standard nationwide. 

According to EV experts at the RAC, a rapid charger can recharge an EV to around 80% of its battery’s capacity in 20-60 minutes (depending on the state of its charge upon arrival), with it only taking another 20 minutes to get you to 100%.

Certain models of ultra-rapid chargers offer drivers 50kW, 150kW and even up to 350kW capacities. In practice, this means that you can recharge your car’s battery in minutes rather than hours. BP Pulse data shows how a 50kW charger can add 40 miles of range in 15 minutes, while a 150kW charger can add 100 miles in the same time frame.

The downside is that rapid chargers use a crazy amount of power, so you won’t be able to get one installed at home. You’ll usually find rapid chargers at motorway service stations and select other public places.

4. Top-up charging

Quite simply, top-up charging is when you charge your electric car's battery before it runs down to no (or almost no) charge. 

Think of it a bit like opportunistic charging: you plug in as and when you get the chance, just in case you aren’t able to later on. Whether you’re plugging your EV in whilst you do your weekly shop, are doing so at the services on the motorway or quickly adding charge when you’re at home for a short period before going out again, that’s all classed as top-up changing.

Rather than leaving the battery to run flat, doing a top-up charge is recommended, as this can help with the longer-term health of your car’s battery. Where possible, you should use a combination of charging your electric vehicle at home overnight and top-up charging. 

What affects the charging speed of an EV?

Several factors can affect the charging rate. Knowing what these are can help you to determine which vehicle is right for your own needs.

1. Electric car battery capacity/size

Perhaps unsurprisingly, your EV’s battery capacity can influence how long it takes. The larger the battery’s capacity, the longer it will take to recharge. Not all EVs have the same sized battery, which also determines the range your car can go on a single charge.

Here’s the battery size (capacity) of the UK's most popular EVs:

Model	Battery Size (Usable Battery)
Tesla Model 3	57.5kWh (75kWh for the Long Range)
Kia e-Niro	64kWh
Volkswagen ID.3	58kWh
Nissan Leaf	39kWh
Audi E-tron	85kWh

As you can see, the battery size differs even between different models of the same vehicle, so it’s important to do your research to make sure you’re buying a car with a battery size that fits your requirements.

Remember, you’ll get fewer miles on a charge with a smaller battery.

2. The battery’s current charge

When considering how long it takes to charge an electric car, we often think about the length of time to make a full charge, charging the battery from flat to 100%.

But as we’ve already mentioned, most drivers will (and should) top up the charge rather than running their battery to almost empty and completing a full charge.

It doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that fully recharging a battery that still has 50% of its previous charge remaining will take half the time that it would take if it were completely flat. So, if you’re in the habit of charging your EV when you’re at home, even when its battery isn’t totally drained, the amount of time you’ll need to spend plugged in will be less.

3. Battery condition

Whether they’re in your mobile phone, laptop or electric vehicle, all rechargeable batteries degrade over time with each charge. As a loose example, this means that the battery in a newly registered EV will have a greater charging capacity than one that’s 5 or 10 years old.

In fact, data from Which? shows just this. In a study of over 3000 EV drivers, it found that, on average, electric vehicles registered in 2022 maintained 99% of their charging capacity, while those registered in 2014 had 91%.

To put that into the real-world context of your average electric vehicle, which has a range of 188 miles when new, a 1% drop would take that maximum down to 186 miles, while a 9% drop would see it fall to 171 miles. 

So, while battery condition and degradation are things to consider, we don’t think they’re deal-breakers when it comes to deciding whether to make the switch to an electric car or van. 

4. The maximum charging rate of the charge point

The maximum charging rate of the charging point plays a vital part in how long your vehicle takes to charge. 

It’s important to understand that even if your car can charge at a higher rate, you may find that the charger you're using can only charge at a maximum power rating, which is lower than your vehicle is capable of.

An example of this can be seen by looking at the difference in charge rate between a 3-phase grid connection (that can deliver 11kW or 22kW) and a single-phase connection that’s commonly found in our homes (that can deliver 3.7kW or 7.4kW).

Putting this into context, here’s the difference between these two types of EV chargers and a Tesla Model 3:

	3-Phase Grid Connection	Single Phase Connection
Charge Time (0- >235 mi)	6h 15m	9h 15m
Charge Speed	38mph	26mph

Be sure to understand when looking at the specs of an EV that you’re considering the charge power used for the timings. Most homes and public charging stations don’t use a 3-phase connection, offering a charge power that’s more likely to be 7.4kW.

5. Environmental factors

The climate and weather can also influence the charging efficiency of an electric vehicle, as lithium batteries are known to be sensitive to extremes in temperature.

In freezing cold conditions, for example, the fluid inside the battery becomes thicker, causing it to be less receptive (or more sluggish) when on charge. 

How much range do you get per hour of charging?

How far an electric car can go on one full charge or per hour of charge depends on the efficiency of the car's battery and how powerful it is. Smaller EVs are more efficient than larger ones. For example, a Renault Zoe can get around 30 miles of range per hour with a 7kW charging point. Bigger cars are heavier and require more power to set their wheels in motion. An Audi e-Tron Quattro, for example, gets 20 miles of range per hour at 7kW.

It can also depend on what features you use in your car while out on the roads. Certain things, such as heated seats and air conditioning, will mean you use more electricity as you drive, so your overall range per hour of charging will be reduced.

The best way to learn more about the specifics of your car’s features, range and efficiency is to refer to its manual or owner handbook. You can also look at the car manufacturer’s website and look for your vehicle on databases such as the EV Database.

EV chargers from BOXT

If you want to join the 84% of British EV drivers who enjoy the benefits of being able to plug in and recharge at home, get in touch with BOXT.

Our team works nationwide to supply and install reliable home EV chargers to help make getting from A to B that little bit easier. 

To get started, simply fill in our quick online form with a few details about yourself, your car and your property, and we’ll do the rest. Our experts will create an EV charging package that’s tailored to your home and stop by to install everything at a time that suits you.