How long does it take to charge an EV?
It could take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to recharge your electric vehicle depending on your car’s battery type and your charging method.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Edited by Georgina Grant
Table of Contents
- How long does it take to charge an electric car?
- How far can electric cars travel on one charge?
- How long can electric cars idle?
- What happens if my EV runs out of battery?
- FAQs
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Depending on your electric car’s battery type and the charging method you’re using, it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to recharge your vehicle.
- How long it takes to charge an EV depends on your battery and the charging method you choose.
- Electric cars on the market today can typically get 250 to 300 miles of range on a single charge, with some getting even more.
- Electric cars can idle for extended periods of time without significant power loss.
- How long it takes to charge an EV depends on your battery and the charging method you choose.
- Electric cars on the market today can typically get 250 to 300 miles of range on a single charge, with some getting even more.
- Electric cars can idle for extended periods of time without significant power loss.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
How long it takes to charge an electric car will largely depend on:
- The vehicle and battery type
- The battery capacity
- The charging method you’re using
- The battery’s current charge level
- The temperature (60-80 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal)
It can generally take electric vehicles anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to as many as a few hours to recharge.
EV charging is currently broken into three different levels:
- Level 1 charging: This is the simplest charging method, but also the slowest. Level 1 charging involves using a standard 120V household outlet and won’t require you to install extra charging equipment in your garage. It can typically add five miles of range with an hour of charging. This could be enough for short local trips, but if you need a faster option, you’ll want to look at level 2 charging.
- Level 2 charging: Level 2 charging can generally add about 25 miles of range per hour. It uses a 240V outlet, like you might use for a larger appliance, like a dryer or refrigerator. This means an electrician may need to install a new outlet in your garage for you, as well as additional charging equipment required for your vehicle (but sometimes rebates and tax incentives can offset those costs). You can find level 2 chargers in home and workplace settings, as well as at public charging stations.
- Level 3 charging: More commonly known as direct-current fast charging or DC fast charging, these stations have much higher power outputs and offer the fastest charging times. Depending on the vehicle, it can add 100 to 200 miles or more in just 30 minutes of charging time. You’ll find this option exclusively at public charging stations, and at least for now, they tend to be more limited in availability.
One caution about DC fast charging: Most EV manuals will advise that you use DC fast charging sparingly, because overuse could reduce your battery’s lifespan over time.
Don’t charge to max capacity, either: While it might seem counterintuitive, it’s usually more ideal to charge lithium-ion batteries to about 80% rather than fully recharging them—unless you expect to need its full range for a long trip. Take a look at your owner’s manual to learn more about the ideal charging level for your own battery.
How far can electric cars travel on one charge?
It depends on your vehicle and its battery capacity.
Today, EVs typically get 250-300 miles on a charge, although some models push that boundary to 350-400 miles, and at least one manufacturer is promising over 500 miles for its newest models. Always check your car’s manual to see what your manufacturer says about the range.
Getting the most range out of your EV’s battery for the long term will also require proper care and maintenance. Here are some more tips to get the most mileage out of your battery:
- Drive at a consistent speed within the speed limit. Suddenly accelerating (unless you need to pass another car) and driving fast will increase the drain on the car’s battery. Alternatively, driving slower will help you conserve energy.
- Learn how to use your vehicle’s regenerative braking. This can save up to 20% of your battery’s power. Regenerative braking systems are designed to recharge your car’s battery.
- Be conservative with the AC and heat. Producing cold and hot air eats up a lot of battery power. You should be comfortable, but understand the effects of keeping your car’s thermostat at extremes.
How long can electric cars idle?
EV motors don’t use up power while stationary so according to experts and tests, electric cars can idle for more than 24 hours.
In an article by Reuters, Oxford University engineering professor David Howey, states that EV motors don’t use power when the car is stationary. So, theoretically without climate control features the battery would still have a fairly high charge despite the car being “on”.
Journalist Alex Lauer decided to test this out after the infamous I-95 shutdown in Virginia this past winter. He
idled an EV for 12 hours
to see if it would last—and it did, with 75% of the battery to spare. EVs make great city driving cars as zero pollution, regenerative braking, and power reserve motors ensure you save a lot more energy.
What happens if my EV runs out of battery?
If you’re driving an electric car and it runs out of power, the short and simple answer is this: the car will stop—and you’ll likely need to call roadside assistance to get towed to the nearest charging station.
But an electric car will also warn you if you’re getting low on power.
Some electric vehicles will even tell you where the nearest chargers are on the car’s navigation system. But it’s also a good idea to download apps like PlugShare, which show you the nearest charging stations.
Fortunately, as electric vehicles become more widely used, more and more electric charging stations are being installed all over the country.
MORE: How to choose an eco-friendly car
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Does AAA charge electric cars?
AAA does charge electric cars depending on where you live. Some metro areas in the U.S. have limited AAA mobile charging services—so you’d have to check with AAA to be sure.
AAA said it expects to expand the service in the future as the electrical vehicle market grows—so perhaps we will be seeing this in more areas soon.
If you do drive an electric vehicle and do happen to run out of charge while driving, AAA can tow your car to the nearest charging station.
Can electric cars charge while driving?
Most electric cars today won’t recharge while driving. To charge the battery on your electric car, you’ll need to manually plug it into a charging port.
How much coal is burned to charge an electric car?
While it can depend on the kWh of your specific car, your location, and the type of charger you’re using, here’s what we know about the amount of coal used to charge an
electric car
:- A typical American EV needs 66 kWh to charge.
- On average, cars in America use 70 pounds of coal per charge (or about 8 gallons of oil).
- It’s important to consider the energy mix at your local power grid, since most aren’t powered by coal or oil alone. Some use renewable sources like wind or solar energy.
