How Fast Does an Electric Car Charge?
Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle advocate based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. He is a content creator and marketing professional who contributes written and recorded pieces to a wide range of media outlets. His analysis has been featured in Find The Best Car Price, WWLP TV, and Torque News, among others. He has also had video content featured on Inside EVs. Birkett was an EV Guide for Plug in America events in Massachusetts (Drive Electric Cambridge and Drive Electric Lowell) and Ohio (Earth Day 2019 at Cleveland Zoo). He participates in quarterly advisory panel meetings for EVolve New York (a state-level charging initiative) and has contributed to focus groups for prominent U.S. charging networks.
Birkett is a father-of-two who loves nothing more than packing up the family and hitting the road in their latest electric car, which is currently a 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5. With multiple Chevy Bolts in his past, as well as a Chevy Volt and Tesla Model 3 LR in the extended family, plus various EV rentals when he ventures back home to his native United Kingdom, Birkett has more than 100,000 all-electric miles under his belt and is always ready to try out a new electric vehicle.
For press inquiries, contact steve@findthebestcarprice.com
For fast charging, electric vehicles (EVs) typically use direct current (DC) charging hardware that can deliver large amounts of power in a short amount of time. On a 350 kW DC fast charger, the most capable EV models can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes, potentially adding hundreds of miles of range in that time period.
Older EV models and DCFC stations are limited to sub-100 kW charging, which can take around 45 minutes to achieve similar fast charging results. EVs also tend to charge more slowly after 80% state of charge, as the battery cannot take as much in as it approaches a full charge and the management software seeks to protect the pack from damage.
Here are some approximate 10-80% charge times for different levels of EV power, based on an average pack size of 75kWh:
- 50kW - 60 minutes
- 100kW - 30 minutes
- 150kW - 20 minutes
- 200 kW -15 minutes
For EV drivers choosing slower level 2 charging, speed and charging time become less of a factor as the vehicle is typically left parked overnight or while doing other activities that take several hours.
