How long does it take to charge an electric car?
4 minute read Published on Jan 5, 2024 by BrokerLink Communications
If you’re wondering, Is an electric car worth it? or want to know how reliable electric cars are, you may be curious to know how long it takes to charge this type of vehicle. Unlike gas-powered vehicles, one of the main features that electric car owners must get used to is charging their cars. Continue reading to find out how long it takes to charge an electric car.
Length of time to charge an electric car
When preparing your home for an electric car, one step you have to take is to install an electric charging station. Beyond figuring out how electric charging stations work, it’s also important to know how long it will take for your electric car to charge. Ultimately, the length of time it takes for an electric vehicle to charge depends on a number of factors, which we dive into below. Due to these variables, charging an electric car in Canada can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours.
Factors impacting how long it takes to charge an electric car
A few factors that impact how far can an electric car go and how long it takes to charge include:
- The size of your electric car battery (you can learn more about electric car batteries here)
- The type of charging station you are using
- The battery charge percentage when you start charging
- The temperature and weather conditions at the time of the charging
Electric car battery size
First, the size of the car battery in your electric vehicle will impact the charging time. As you might expect, the larger the battery’s capacity, the longer it will take to charge. While some EVs have capacities of 500 miles or more, others have much smaller capacities of under 200 miles, this is one factor to consider when deciding between a hybrid vs electric car. Thus, when considering how long it will take to charge your electric car, one factor to consider is the battery it contains, the size of which can be identified by finding the range.
Charging station type
The type of charging station you are charging your electric car at will have a major effect on the charging time. For instance, using an at-home charger one of the hidden costs of owning an electric car vs. one at a public charging station, as well as what level of charger you are using, will result in different charging times.
Level 1 and 2 electric car charging stations:
The majority of charging stations in Canada are Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations. Level 1 charging stations are 120-volt chargers, while Level 2 charging stations are 240-volt chargers. Level 2 charging stations are more common in public, whereas Level 1 charging stations are more common in homes. As you might suspect, given the voltage, Level 1 charging stations are the slowest option and can take up to 12 hours to charge a car. Level 2 charging stations will still likely take multiple hours to charge but shouldn’t require an overnight charge like Level 1 chargers. For information on whether home insurance covers at-home electric charging stations, contact BrokerLink.
Level 3 electric car charging stations:
Level 3 chargers, also known as DC fast charging, are 480-volt chargers also known as double the power of a Level 2 charger. These are one of the fastest types of chargers and are most commonly used at public charging stations. They can charge a car in as little as 30 minutes.
Tesla Superchargers:
One last type of charging station to be aware of is Tesla Superchargers. These chargers have the ability to charge Tesla electric vehicles in just 15 minutes. Specifically, they can provide your EV with up to 320 kilometres of range in this time span.
It is worth noting that although Level 3 chargers and Tesla Superchargers can effectively charge your electric car battery in a very short time span, they should not be used on a daily basis. These types of chargers can deplete your battery faster, which is why good hybrid and electric car maintenance involves primarily charging your battery using Level 1 and 2 chargers.
Battery charge percentage
Whether your car battery is completely empty, partially charged, or nearly fully charged at the time of the charging will also influence how long it takes to reach 100%. For instance, if you are charging your car from empty to full, it will take longer to charge than if you already had half of a charge and are simply topping it up.
Temperature and weather
One final factor that impacts how long it will take to charge an electric car is the weather. If temperatures are extreme, whether they are extremely hot or cold, it can impact your EV battery. Specifically, it can deplete its battery life faster and even take longer to charge. Thus, if you are trying to charge your electric vehicle during a heat wave in August or a polar vortex in January, you should expect it to take longer than if you were trying to charge it in mild weather conditions.
Contact BrokerLink for your electric car insurance
If you have questions about electric car insurance, contact BrokerLink today. We can answer all of your insurance-related queries, as well as help you find quality electric car insurance. One of our licensed car insurance specialists would be happy to explain how the different types of auto insurance can protect you and your electric vehicle from damage while on the road or parked.
Contact BrokerLink for free car insurance quotes now. We offer free Toronto car insurance quotes to all customers.