How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?
Last reviewed: 2026-06-14
Quick answer
The quickest estimate is energy needed divided by charging power. For a useful planning number, enter your own battery size, starting charge, target charge, charger power, and efficiency, then leave extra time for taper, temperature, and vehicle limits.
The simple formula
Start with the battery capacity and multiply it by the percentage you plan to add. A 75 kWh battery going from 20% to 80% adds 60% of the pack, or about 45 kWh in the battery. Divide that energy by charger power adjusted for efficiency to estimate hours.
Example estimate
If the charger can deliver 11 kW and charging efficiency is 90%, the effective battery-side power is about 9.9 kW. The 45 kWh session therefore estimates to about 4 hours and 33 minutes. A slower outlet or lower efficiency can change the answer quickly.
Why the real time can differ
The simple formula assumes steady average power, but an EV may reduce power when the battery is cold, hot, nearly full, or limited by the onboard charger. Shared public chargers can also split power across vehicles, so the calculator is best used as a planning estimate.
Example energy added by battery size
| Battery size | 20% to 80% energy | Wall energy at 90% efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | 24 kWh | About 26.7 kWh |
| 60 kWh | 36 kWh | About 40.0 kWh |
| 75 kWh | 45 kWh | About 50.0 kWh |
Common mistakes
- Using total battery size when the session only adds part of the battery.
- Forgetting efficiency loss when comparing wall energy with battery energy.
- Assuming the charger can hold peak power for the full session.
Source note
DOE AFDC charging references are useful for charging terminology and levels. The exact charging time still depends on the vehicle, charger, battery temperature, and charging curve.
FAQ
Is charging from 0% to 100% a useful estimate?
It can be useful for comparing chargers, but daily charging usually happens between partial charge levels such as 20% and 80%. A 0% to 100% estimate can also be optimistic because many EVs slow down near a high state of charge.