How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle?
There are many types of electric vehicles and subclassifications of electric vehicles. From pure battery-electric vehicles to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the various kinds of EVs take different times to come to a full charge. What’s more, there are several different levels of EV charging, from Level 1 to Level 3. So, to most completely answer the question, “How long does it take to charge an electric car?” knowing more context is important.
Ready to learn more? Rather than provide a false one-size-fits-all answer, we here at Honda of Toms River seek to inform you about the entirety of the situation. So keep reading to find out all about EV charging times!
What are My Electric Car Charging Options?
- Level 1 Charging (Regular Outlet): A normal grounded (three-prong) 110V/120V charging outlet (Level 1 Charging) doesn’t offer a lightning-fast charging speed but it’s a good choice for topping off your EV at home when intermixed with other charging methods at work or during play. That said, Level 1 charging generally takes around 24 hours or more for a full charge. In other words, expect it to take days, not hours, to charge your EV with this method.
- Level 2 Charging (Installed Brand-Approved): Level 2 Charging is typically professionally installed in a home setting. Level 2 charging uses rapid (usually 240V+) chargers most often made for your brand of car. Normally, Level 2 charging can charge a battery-electric vehicle in a matter of maybe 8 hours or so, or overnight.
- Level 3 Charging: DC fast chargers (as opposed to AC ones) are also common. It’s not unheard of to obtain an 80% charge in half an hour or 45 minutes with this type of charging method, but that extra 20% will take longer as there’s a diminishing rate of charging speed to contend with (thanks physics!)
A Note on Public vs. Domestic Charging: Level 1 charging is almost exclusively a home-based, or domestic, charging method. That said, Level 2 charging is also an option when installed at home. Level 3 charging, by contrast, is a public-exclusive option, though you can also find Level 2 chargers in public.
Typical Domestic Charging Electric Car Charging Time
Domestic car charging times vary based on whether you choose Level 1 or Level 2 charging:
- Level 3 EV charging can fully recharge most EVs in an hour or less, or add significant range in just ten minutes.
- Level 2 EV charging takes hours to fully charge an electric car. Generally speaking, a single night of Level 2 charging is sufficient to fully recharge an EV.
- Level 1 EV charging often takes days to fully charge an electric car.
Which charging method is right for you? Call (732) 656-8232 if you’d like to speak to one of our friendly EV experts about it all! Generally, Brick and Manahawkin drivers of EVs use Level 1 charging if they have access to fast charging at work. Whenever able, drivers tend to spring for Level 2 domestic charging over Level 1 due to the speed increase, too. In areas where public charging is scant, this is often also the case.
Typical Public Charging Electric Car Charging Time
A majority of EV home chargers offer 3.7 kW or 7 kW charging. Public stations, on the other hand, offer 22 kW charging, 43-50 kW rapid charging, and 150 kW rapid charging.
Consequently, for some applicable EVs, you could foreseeably get a full charge (0-100%) in an hour or so. In other cases, it could take 4 hours, 6 hours, or 11 hours for a full charge.
Find Your Electric Vehicle Near Toms River
Considering buying an EV near Brick or Berkeley? Be sure you keep abreast of NJ electric vehicle tax credit information and updates and, while you’re at it, browse our new vehicle specials for extra savings.