How long does it take to charge an electric car? Understand what makes charging faster or slower

Anyone who is thinking of buying an electric car, but doesn’t know much about this type of motorization, certainly has several questions and many of them are related to vehicle charging . Among the main questions, one that seems simple, but actually involves several factors is: how long does it take to charge a 100% battery-powered model?

With the acquisition of a model that runs on electricity, the mandatory stops at the gas station come to an end. Fueling, or rather, recharging the vehicle is now a process that is integrated into the routine, taking place while you sleep at home, work, shop at the mall, stop on the road, among other situations.

SEE ALSO:

• Brazil’s fastest charger takes 13 minutes to add 300 km of range to electric cars
• What do you need to have to install an electric car charger in your home?
• Electric car still generates (and causes) suspicions

It turns out that the length of time you spend to top up your automobile battery depends on a combination of technical factors of the charger and the vehicle itself. The recharge period can range from less than 30 minutes to more than a full day.

In this article you can check out a guide for you to understand the different options and plan your recharges without surprises.

What defines the recharge time of your electric car

According to Clemente Gauer, director of the Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association (ABVE), the charging time of an electric car depends mainly on the following factors:

• Charger power: works as the ‘flow’ of energy. The higher the power in kilowatts (kW), the more electricity the equipment can send to the car in less time;
• Battery capacity: corresponds to the size of the tank of a combustion car. The battery capacity of the electric model is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and when this part has a higher capacity, it will naturally require more time connected to reach full charge;
• Vehicle’s ability to receive this power: it is not enough for the external charger to be powerful; the car needs to accept this energy;
• Battery state of charge: with low charge, close to 0%, logically full charging will take longer.
• Battery temperature: for a recharge to occur at the rated speed, the battery typically needs to be above zero degrees and ideally between 20 ºC and 30 ºC.
• Electronic management of the car itself: above 80%, it is common for the recharging speed to be reduced sharply, and in some cases this speed can drop to around 20% of the rated power. This is important to protect the cells and ensure the longevity of the system.

But, in general and without very adverse conditions, the recharging time of an electric vehicle is basically limited by the maximum power of the charger available and the ability of the vehicle itself to receive this power.

Types of chargers and average waiting times to charge an electric car

The charging options differ greatly between the domestic environment (slow charge) with alternating current (AC) and commercial charging stations (fast charge) with direct current (DC). In this table you can see a charging guide on power and estimated time with data provided by the battery company Moura:

But, according to Clemente Gauer, in Brazil there are already even more powerful chargers that greatly reduce recharging time. An example of this is the Esquina do Futuro, in Porto Alegre, which offers power of up to 480 kW. In vehicles capable of accepting this configuration, a full charge can take less than 10 minutes.

Charging tips for those who have, or want to have, an electric car

The director of ABVE points out that the best way to ‘fuel’ your electric model depends much more on the owner’s availability than on other factors. Therefore, those who have a battery-powered model should take into account the following factors:

• The time it takes to recharge an electric vehicle is relative. For up to 80% of EV owners, overnight home charging takes no time from the driver. The vehicle simply charges while the person rests.
• Even though fast public charging is usually 10 to 40 times faster than a residential home charging, having your car parked in the garage for nine hours overnight can be much more convenient than dedicating 15 minutes to a stop during your commute.
• During trips, most electric car drivers do not usually charge the vehicle to 100%. It is often more convenient to ‘refuel’ just enough to reach the destination, where there is often a slow-recharging home charger or even a conventional outlet available, ensuring some financial savings.
• In order not to suffer from a lack of autonomy when traveling, it is recommended that the driver start the journey with the car 100% charged and, whenever there is the possibility of charging during a break in the journey, choose a place that has recharging. Apps like Tupi Recarga help with this planning, in addition to informing your operating status in real time.
• During trips, the ideal is not to risk unexplored regions leaving the battery below 30%. In the event of any unforeseen event, either with the road or with the charger, the driver will still have enough autonomy to go to another charging point.
• In an emergency, it is possible to use portable chargers in any household outlet so that the driver can reach the next charger.

Other questions about charging

• How much does it cost to charge an electric car at the gas station?

The cost varies by region and establishment. Although shopping malls and supermarkets still offer free recharges as a courtesy, paid charging stations charge per kWh consumed (usually between R$ 1.50 and R$ 2.50 per kWh).

• Does the battery need to reach 0% to recharge?

Definitely not. Modern lithium-ion batteries don’t get “hooked.” Experts recommend keeping the battery in the range of 20% to 80% in daily use. Leave it to charge up to 100% only when you are going to make long trips that require maximum autonomy.

• Does weather affect recharge time?

The ambient temperature can influence charging time, especially in regions where temperatures drop below freezing. In these cases, before starting recharging at full power, the battery may need to be warmed up. Even so, many vehicles, when they have a charging station defined as a destination in the GPS navigator, automatically start the process of preheating the batteries. In Brazil, with rare exceptions, our temperatures are within an ideal performance range for both batteries and the electric car as a whole.