The Charging Time Question
"How long does it take to charge?" is the most common EV question—and the most complicated to answer. Charging time depends on battery size, charger power, starting charge level, and more.
This guide gives you the formulas and tables to calculate charging time for any scenario.
The Basic Formula
Charging Time (hours) = Energy Needed (kWh) ÷ Charging Power (kW)
Example:
- Battery capacity: 75 kWh
- Starting charge: 20% (15 kWh remaining)
- Target charge: 80% (60 kWh)
- Energy needed: 60 - 15 = 45 kWh
- Charger power: 10 kW
- Time: 45 ÷ 10 = 4.5 hours
Charging Power Levels
Level 1 (120V AC)
- Power: 1.2-1.8 kW
- Typical: 1.4 kW
Level 2 (240V AC)
| Amperage | Power (kW) |
|---|---|
| 16A | 3.8 kW |
| 24A | 5.8 kW |
| 32A | 7.7 kW |
| 40A | 9.6 kW |
| 48A | 11.5 kW |
DC Fast Charging
| Speed Tier | Power (kW) |
|---|---|
| Basic | 50 kW |
| Standard | 150 kW |
| Fast | 250 kW |
| Ultra-Fast | 350 kW |
Quick Reference Tables
Level 1 Charging Times (1.4 kW)
| Battery Size | 0-100% | 20-80% |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | 29 hrs | 17 hrs |
| 60 kWh | 43 hrs | 26 hrs |
| 75 kWh | 54 hrs | 32 hrs |
| 100 kWh | 71 hrs | 43 hrs |
Level 2 Charging Times (7.7 kW)
| Battery Size | 0-100% | 20-80% |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | 5.2 hrs | 3.1 hrs |
| 60 kWh | 7.8 hrs | 4.7 hrs |
| 75 kWh | 9.7 hrs | 5.8 hrs |
| 100 kWh | 13 hrs | 7.8 hrs |
Level 2 Charging Times (11.5 kW)
| Battery Size | 0-100% | 20-80% |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | 3.5 hrs | 2.1 hrs |
| 60 kWh | 5.2 hrs | 3.1 hrs |
| 75 kWh | 6.5 hrs | 3.9 hrs |
| 100 kWh | 8.7 hrs | 5.2 hrs |
DC Fast Charging Times (150 kW)
| Battery Size | 10-80% |
|---|---|
| 60 kWh | ~28 min |
| 75 kWh | ~35 min |
| 100 kWh | ~47 min |
DC Fast Charging Times (250 kW)
| Battery Size | 10-80% |
|---|---|
| 60 kWh | ~17 min |
| 75 kWh | ~21 min |
| 100 kWh | ~28 min |
The Charging Curve Factor
DC fast charging doesn't maintain peak power throughout the session. Speed tapers as the battery fills.
Typical Charging Curve
| State of Charge | Charging Speed |
|---|---|
| 10-30% | 90-100% of peak |
| 30-50% | 80-90% of peak |
| 50-70% | 60-80% of peak |
| 70-80% | 40-60% of peak |
| 80-100% | 10-40% of peak |
Real-World Impact
A "350 kW" charger might deliver:
- 10-30%: 300 kW average
- 30-50%: 250 kW average
- 50-80%: 150 kW average
- 80-100%: 50 kW average
This is why 10-80% is much faster than 80-100%.
Charging Time by Popular EV
Tesla Model 3 Long Range (82 kWh)
| Charger | 10-80% Time |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (1.4 kW) | ~41 hours |
| Level 2 (11.5 kW) | ~5 hours |
| Supercharger V3 (250 kW) | ~25 min |
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Long Range (77 kWh)
| Charger | 10-80% Time |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (1.4 kW) | ~38 hours |
| Level 2 (11 kW) | ~5.2 hours |
| DC Fast (350 kW) | ~18 min |
Ford Mustang Mach-E ER (91 kWh)
| Charger | 10-80% Time |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (1.4 kW) | ~45 hours |
| Level 2 (11 kW) | ~6.3 hours |
| DC Fast (150 kW) | ~45 min |
Chevrolet Bolt EUV (65 kWh)
| Charger | 10-80% Time |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (1.4 kW) | ~32 hours |
| Level 2 (7.2 kW) | ~6.5 hours |
| DC Fast (55 kW) | ~60 min |
Rivian R1T (135 kWh)
| Charger | 10-80% Time |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (1.4 kW) | ~67 hours |
| Level 2 (11.5 kW) | ~8.5 hours |
| DC Fast (220 kW) | ~43 min |
Calculating Your Specific Scenario
Step-by-Step Calculator
Inputs Needed:
- Battery capacity (kWh)
- Starting charge (%)
- Target charge (%)
- Charger power (kW)
Calculation:
- Starting energy = Capacity × Starting %
- Target energy = Capacity × Target %
- Energy needed = Target - Starting
- Time (hours) = Energy needed ÷ Charger power
- Time (minutes) = Time × 60
Example Calculation
Scenario: 75 kWh battery, 25% to 80%, 7.7 kW charger
- Starting energy: 75 × 0.25 = 18.75 kWh
- Target energy: 75 × 0.80 = 60 kWh
- Energy needed: 60 - 18.75 = 41.25 kWh
- Time: 41.25 ÷ 7.7 = 5.36 hours
Factors That Affect Charging Time
Temperature
Cold Weather:
- Battery may need warming before accepting full power
- Can add 20-50% to charging time
- Pre-conditioning helps significantly
Hot Weather:
- May throttle charging to protect battery
- Usually less impact than cold
Battery State of Health
Degraded batteries:
- May charge slower due to cell limitations
- Capacity reduction means less energy to add
Charger Limitations
Your car's onboard charger limits Level 2:
- If car has 7.2 kW onboard charger, a 11.5 kW station only delivers 7.2 kW
The station's power limits DC:
- If your car accepts 250 kW but station is 150 kW, you get 150 kW
Cable and Connection Quality
- Poor connections can reduce power
- Shared chargers may split power
Range Added Per Time
Sometimes thinking in "range added" is more useful:
Level 2 (7.7 kW, 3.5 mi/kWh efficiency)
| Time | Range Added |
|---|---|
| 15 min | ~7 miles |
| 30 min | ~13 miles |
| 1 hour | ~27 miles |
| 2 hours | ~54 miles |
| 8 hours | ~216 miles |
DC Fast (150 kW, 3.0 mi/kWh efficiency)
| Time | Range Added |
|---|---|
| 5 min | ~38 miles |
| 10 min | ~75 miles |
| 20 min | ~150 miles |
| 30 min | ~200 miles |
Planning With Charging Time
Daily Driving
Most drivers need 20-50 miles daily:
- Level 2 overnight: More than enough
- Level 2 for 2-3 hours: Covers most daily needs
- Level 1 overnight: Often sufficient for <30 miles/day
Road Trips
Strategy: Charge to 80% at each stop
Example: 500-mile trip, 300-mile range EV
| Stop | Miles Driven | Charging Needed | Time (250 kW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 0 | 100% from home | 0 min |
| Stop 1 | 200 | 20% → 80% | ~25 min |
| Stop 2 | 400 | 25% → 75% | ~20 min |
| Arrival | 500 | ~20% remaining | - |
Conclusion
Charging time calculations help you:
- Plan road trips accurately
- Choose the right charger for your needs
- Understand how different EVs compare
- Set realistic expectations
Key Takeaways:
- Home charging: Think in hours, but it happens while you sleep
- DC fast charging: 20-40 minutes for 10-80%
- The 80% rule: Going past 80% takes disproportionately long
- Your car's max rate matters as much as the charger's
Use ChargeFind to find chargers with the power levels you need and plan your charging stops confidently.