How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

One of the most common questions from prospective EV owners is: how long does it actually take to charge? The answer depends on three things — the charger's power output, the vehicle's onboard charger capacity, and the battery size. Here's a clear breakdown.

The Key Variables

Charger power (kW): Higher power = faster charging. Home chargers are typically 7.4kW (single-phase) or up to 22kW (three-phase). Public fast chargers range from 50kW to 350kW DC.

Vehicle onboard charger: Your car's onboard AC charger determines the maximum AC charging rate it can accept, regardless of the charger's output. Most EVs accept 7.4–11kW AC. Check your vehicle specs.

Battery size: A 40kWh battery charges faster than an 80kWh battery at the same power level. Charging time = battery capacity (kWh) ÷ charging power (kW).

Practical Examples

60kWh battery on a 7.4kW home charger: approximately 8–9 hours for a full charge — perfect for overnight charging. 77kWh battery on an 11kW three-phase charger: approximately 7 hours. 60kWh battery on a 50kW DC public charger: 0–80% in approximately 45–60 minutes. 60kWh battery on a 150kW DC charger: 0–80% in approximately 20–25 minutes.

The Bottom Line

For daily driving, overnight home charging is the gold standard — convenient, cheap, and always ready in the morning. Public fast charging is ideal for long journeys or top-ups during the day. Greems optimises your home and workplace charging automatically, ensuring your vehicle is always ready when you need it at the lowest possible cost.

Want to set up smart scheduled charging for your EV? Contact Greems today.