How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Learn all about charging speed, at home and on the road. Rapid charging and how to find your nearest charge point in our guide to how long it takes to charge an electric car.

Electric vehicle charge speeds - the basics

Want to understand more about how the time it takes to charge an electric vehicle? Well wonder no more, we've pulled together a comprehensive guide covering a range of topics from how long your battery will take to charge with different types of charger to beating range anxiety and much more.

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How long can you drive an electric car before recharging?

There isn't one straight answer to this as a variety of factors will impact the time it takes for your battery to fill up in a single charge. Factors like battery capacity, the charge level and ambient temperature all play a part.

The length you can go when driving an electric vehicle, before having to recharge is often referred to as range. Your car manufacturers handbook should give you an idea of the official range of your electric car. This can be anything from 125 miles for an older EVs like the 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf to a long range of 350 plus miles for newer higher spec models, from manufacturers like Tesla, such as the Tesla model S. The official range may differ a little from the real-world range so always err on the side of caution.

Another key factor is the battery capacity of your car. This will have a direct impact on its range, so the higher the kWh of your battery the better your range will be. Ambient temperature is also a factor, so the colder your battery is the longer it will take to charge, meaning you may see slower charging speeds in the colder winter months.

Slow chargers such as a 2.4kW 3-pin plug will charge an electric car in 18.3hrs. Fast 7.4kW home chargers will charge an electric car in 6hrs. *Both slow and fast charging figures are based on charging a Tesla model 3 with a 50kW battery starting at 20% and charging to 100%. Ultra fast public chargers can charge up to 175kW, that could charge your car for 100 miles in 10 minutes.

How fast can you charge an electric car?

Range anxiety and charging speed are key concerns for BEV (Battery electric vehicle) drivers and potential BEV drivers. There are a range of different charging speeds, they're often dependent on your car's battery capacity, where you charge and the type of charger you use such as a domestic socket, ultra-rapid public charger or a dedicated 7.4kW home charger.

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Why can't electric cars charge faster?

If you're expecting to be able to charge an electric car as fast as filling up your conventional petrol or diesel car, I'm afraid to say you'll be disappointed. It's not to say that this will never be the case with new EV technology being developed all the time we could see charging time dramatically reduced.

There are a few things you can do to increase speeds when charging at home, like changing your home supply from a single to 3-phase supply. This way you could get 22kW power from your home supply.

Away from home, the ultra-rapid chargers on our E.ON Drive network charging at 175kW could charge your car in as little as 10 minutes¹ depending on the size of your battery, car model and how much energy is left in the battery.

Ambient temperature

If your electric car battery is cold when you start to charge you may notice that charging takes a little longer than usual. This could also impact your EVs range in the winter months, even using a rapid charger you may find it a little slower to charge.
Battery capacity

Your battery capacity will have an impact on the length of time to fill up in a single charge. Using a 7.4kW home charger, the Tesla model S with its battery capacity of 100kWh would take 15hrs to fully charge from empty compared to the Volkswagen e-Up with its 33kWh battery fully charging just under 5hrs.
Make, model and type of charger

Fast chargers like home chargers or those found in supermarkets and public car parks with power of 7kW or 22kW. Ultra-fast or Ultra-rapid chargers at specific charging stations will give you power over 100kW. You may also find 50kW rapid chargers on the road.
Remaining charge

The amount of charge left in your battery can also impact the time it takes to charge your EV. Take the Tesla model 3 for example starting with 20% charge and charging to just 90% you could charge its 50kW battery in 5hrs 15.

Can you charge an electric car based on the distance you need to travel?

It's recommended that you don't charge your car battery up to 100% on a daily basis. The optimum charge would be somewhere between 80% and 90% saving a 100% charge for longer journeys. This will help to prevent battery degradation.

Charging overnight is most popular and convenient way to charge EVs. Most chargers will let you set a limit so you don't have to worry about overcharging at night meaning you can lay back, relax and sleep knowing your car will be ready to roll when you wake up.

Did you know?

If you re-charge before your battery drops below 20% and then only charge up to 80% capacity, you can extend the life and condition of your battery.

Beat range anxiety with our network of public chargers across Europe

The change to electric vehicles is highly dependent on the quality of the charging infrastructure and the quantity of charging stations. Long journeys can fill an EV driver with anxiety, will I have enough charge? Where can I re-charge on the road? It’s good to know where and when you can charge your battery. That's why we have built one of the largest charging networks in Europe. You can use our app (similar to zap map) to find the nearest charging station. In addition, more and more supermarkets, restaurants and hotels are now making charging stations available at a low cost or completely free, so range anxiety may become a thing of the past sooner than you think.

Maximise your charge whilst you park

There are lots of free EV charge points available across the UK in supermarket car parks and other public parking spaces. Many people also have the opportunity to charge at work so, this is most certainly a great incentive to switch to electric. You can watch the cars queue up at the petrol station and smile as you park up and charge whilst you do your weekly shop. Want to know where your nearest public charge points are? You can locate them on the E.ON Drive map.

This kind of charging, in small bursts is also good for maintaining your battery so it's a win win.

Articles and guides on electric vehicle charging

We have a range of guides, pages and articles about electric vehicle charging from the benefits of electric cars to battery capacity and lifespan, we can help you understand more about electric vehicles.

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How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

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