How long does it take for an electric car to charge?
One of the biggest obstacles facing the world of electric cars at the moment is relating to recharging times. Surely this operation is not as immediate as filling up with traditional fuel, but the development of technologies is making great strides for manufacturers in this field.
To date, to carry out a complete recharge using a traditional system, the time for recharging an electric car is approximately 8 hours. In this case, the ideal will be to take advantage of the charging column during the night to have the car full the next morning. Most of the manufacturers, however, promise the possibility of recharging 80% of the battery in just 30 minutes so that you can have a sufficient energy reserve to face the daily movements without anxiety.
Factors that influence charging time
Not all-electric cars have the same range or the same charging capacity. Generally, the charging time depends on several factors:
Battery capacity
This is expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and differs depending on the model and the generation of the electric car. As a general rule, be aware that the larger your battery capacity, the longer its recharge time will be. By recharging on a fast terminal, a 71 kWh battery will take one hour to reach 80% recharge, compared to approximately 30 minutes, for the same power harvested, with a 16 kWh battery connected to the same type of terminal.
Battery status
A completely flat battery will take longer to charge than a half-empty battery. Similarly, a new battery will be recharged more quickly than a battery already worn out by time. It is therefore important to ensure the maintenance of your electric car regularly.
The power of the terminal
The power of the charging station differs completely from one model to another: from 3kW up to 150 kW for the most efficient. It is therefore obvious that the power delivered will necessarily influence the recharge time.
The power tolerated by the car
Again, each electric car is different and has its specificities. Two indicators are important to know if your car can be charged everywhere, even on very fast terminals: the tolerated power in fast charge (DC) and the tolerated power in alternating current (AC) which varies from 3 to 33kW depending on the brand and models. These two elements are generally specified to you during the sale.
The charging cable
The size and capacity of the cable used can be decisive in the recharging time. If you take a cable that can only tolerate a lower load than that delivered by the charging station, your load will be affected. Hence the importance of knowing the capacities of the terminals before choosing a suitable cable.
Climatic conditions
Extreme temperatures are generally not a car's best friend. But it's even more true for electric vehicles, which can't stand high heat or extreme cold. Indeed, this has a very strong impact on recharging, which can be slower or even stop in the most serious cases. The battery loses its power slightly during winter episodes. If possible, make sure to charge your car in a covered place in winter.
Sockets used to charge your electric car at home
At home, the power delivered again depends on the type of socket used.
Wrapping Up
A standard power outlet allows you to recover an average of 2.3 kW/hour, to guarantee your home a certain level of security. For the types of the home terminal called "single-phase", the power oscillates between 3.7 kW and 7.4 kW, i.e. around 7.5 hours of recharging for a full battery. To fully charge your electric city car, you will simply need 5 short hours. Finally, the very fast 50kW terminals, often available in public spaces such as car parks, will allow you to fill up with energy in less than two hours.
