One of the largest barriers for electric vehicle (EV) buyers is charging speed. Nobody wants to hang around a roadside station for 40 minutes. Let’s take a closer look at why EVs take so long to top up, and what is being done to overcome this major hurdle to EV adoption.
How long does it take for an EV to charge?
The exact time it takes to charge an EV battery will depend on the charging point, the charge left to fill on the EV, and a myriad of environmental factors. For example, a fully depleted Tesla Model 3 with the largest capacity would take eight to 12 hours to charge at home with a high-powered connector. Meanwhile, a Supercharger station could do the same job in 25 to 30 minutes.
Do EVs need to be fully charged?
One of the habits ingrained in drivers when it comes to fuel is topping up to 100%. With gasoline, this makes sense, but batteries can take significant damage when they’re pushed to those extremes in capacity.
You may have seen features on laptops that prioritize battery health by capping maximum charging at 80%. It’s common practice now for phones to schedule charging rates so they only reach 100% when you’re just about to wake up in the morning — that way, the battery isn’t spending a lot of time bursting at the seams with power.
Recent Comments