If you’re planning a long road trip with your electric car, one of the most important things to consider is how long it will take to charge your vehicle. The charging time for an electric car can vary depending on several factors such as the type of charger used, the capacity of your car’s battery, and the charging infrastructure available along your route. In this article, we’ll explore these factors and give you a general idea of how long it takes to charge an electric car on a long road trip.
Type of Charger
The type of charger you use can significantly impact the charging time for your electric car. There are three types of chargers – Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast chargers.
- Level 1 Charger: These chargers use a standard household outlet (120 volts) and typically provide around 4-5 miles of driving range per hour. They are best suited for overnight charging at home or when you have plenty of time to spare.
- Level 2 Charger: These chargers require a dedicated circuit (240 volts) and provide faster charging than Level 1 chargers.
They can give you around 25-30 miles of driving range per hour and are usually found at public charging stations or installed at home.
- DC Fast Charger: These chargers are the fastest way to charge your electric car as they use direct current (DC) instead of alternating current (AC). They can provide up to 80% charge in as little as 30 minutes but are not widely available yet.
Battery Capacity
The battery capacity of your electric car also plays a crucial role in determining how long it takes to charge it. The larger the battery, the longer it takes to charge. For instance, a car with a 60 kWh battery will take longer to charge than a car with a 40 kWh battery.
Charging Infrastructure
The availability of charging infrastructure along your route is another factor that can impact the charging time for your electric car. If you’re traveling on a well-established route with plenty of public charging stations, you’ll be able to charge your car faster and more conveniently. However, if you’re traveling through remote areas with limited charging options, you may have to wait longer or even modify your route.
So, How Long Does It Take?
With all these factors in mind, let’s look at some rough estimates of how long it takes to charge an electric car on a long road trip.
- Level 1 Charger: To fully charge an electric car with a Level 1 charger, it can take anywhere from 8-20 hours depending on the battery size.
- Level 2 Charger: With a Level 2 charger, you can get around 25-30 miles of driving range per hour of charging. So, if you have a 200-mile range EV and want to add another 200 miles in driving range on a Level 2 charger, it would take around 6-8 hours.
- DC Fast Charger: Charging an EV from empty to around 80% using DC fast chargers typically takes around 30-45 minutes depending on the vehicle and the charger’s capacity.
Note:
It’s important to note that these are just ballpark figures and the actual charging time can vary based on several other factors such as temperature, driving speed, and the state of health of your battery.
In conclusion, the time it takes to charge an electric car on a long road trip can vary significantly based on several factors. While Level 1 chargers are best suited for overnight charging, Level 2 chargers and DC fast chargers are more suitable for long journeys. Always plan your route ahead and make sure you have access to charging infrastructure along the way.