Filling a tank of gas only takes a few minutes. Unfortunately, EV charging stations don’t have the same efficiency, but they’re getting there. But, when you visit an EV station, you can expect that your charging time will be within a certain range.
New Federal Standards for Public Charging Stations
In February 2023, the federal government established minimum standards for the growing EV-charging infrastructure. The standards exist so drivers can find a functioning charger that is compatible with current and future EVs. The lengthy rule includes standards regarding:
| • The technical standards for the station • Connector types • Minimum number of charging ports at each station • Power levels • Available payment methods | • Reliability • Network connectivity • Maintenance standards • Protection from price gouging • Delivery of minimum kilowatts • Cybersecurity and data privacy |
An interesting aspect of the rule is charging speed. DC fast-charging stations must deliver up to 150 kW and Level 2 chargers should provide at least 6 kW. Kilowatt delivery determines how quickly an EV charges.
Time at a DC Fast-Charging or Tesla SuperCharger Station
The fastest charging stations are DC Fast-Chargers and Tesla SuperChargers. These speedy chargers typically have a power output of 50 to 350 kW, so they can charge a fully-electric vehicle from 20 percent to 80 percent in about 20 minutes to an hour.
Unfortunately, it’s tough to predict the exact charging speed at a DC Fast-Charger thanks to a variety of factors:
- Your EV’s battery size and maximum charging rate
- The charging station’s power
- The weather
- Your EV’s current battery charge
When the weather is cold, EVs need more time to charge. The Nissan Leaf with a 60 kWh battery will charge faster than a Kia EV6 with a 77.4 kWH battery unless the battery in the Leaf has a slow charging rate or if the EV6 arrives with more juice. In general, the larger the battery, the longer it takes to charge. The emptier the battery, the longer it takes to charge.
Even if you plug into a 350 kW charging port, the port rarely uses 350 kW consistently. Your EV will control the flow, speeding up and slowing down throughout the charging session.
If you don’t like to sit around and wait for your EV to fill up at a public charging station, bring a book, play on your phone, or talk to other EV drivers. Many public DC fast-charging stations are at grocery stores, so you can time your charging around your grocery shopping, or get some steps in while your EV charges. I often take advantage of my Wi-Fi hotspot and get some work done during the time I’m waiting for the battery to fill.
Consistent Charging with Level 2 Chargers
Level 2 chargers are the fastest charging stations EV owners can have installed in their homes. These charging stations will fill fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. They are significantly slower than DC fast-charging stations, so many EV owners plug in their vehicles overnight.
Most plug-in hybrid vehicles like the BMW XM, Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV, or the Jeep Wrangler 4xe take between two and three hours to fully charge. My 40-amp Enel-X-Way JuiceBox charges my Wrangler 4xe’s 17.3-kWh battery in about two hours and ten minutes. With an at-home Level 2 charger, the time is always the same, unless the outside temperatures drop below freezing, then it takes about two hours and 30 minutes. I usually charge it every night, so I can use the electric mode around town.
The slow charging is why drivers with plug-in hybrid EVs do not stop every 30 miles to refill the battery. But, if you’re near a public Level 2 charger and you’ve got an hour to exercise, eat, or shop, it might be worth the time (and money) to refill the battery. When I visit the gym at a nearby university, I take advantage of a free Level 2 ChargePoint station. In about 75 minutes, the Jeep battery fills from 45% to 100%.
Fully-electric vehicles need significantly more time to charge at a Level 2 station. The JuiceBox in my garage charges my EV6’s 77.4-kWh in about 7.5 hours. A few nights ago, I added 57.65 kWh to my EV6 with my Level 2 charger. I plugged the car in at 11:08 PM and the EV6 notified me it was full at 5:27 AM. The free charger at the university adds 5% to the EV6 in 75 minutes.
Whether or Not To Consider a Level 1 Charger
Many EVs come with Level 1 chargers. These are slowest of the slow, even for a plug-in hybrid. A Level 1 charger is a household outlet. You don’t need any special charging stations or electrical work done to use one. You can even add an extension cord for those hard-to-reach household outlets (but be prepared to wait longer for the electricity to travel the length of the longer cord).
I haven’t used a Level 1 charger with my EV6, but I have used it frequently to fill the Wrangler 4xe. If the battery is empty, it takes 12 hours to refill it. While it seems silly to wait this long to charge a battery that provides about 25 miles of range, a Level 1 charger is helpful when you don’t have access to anything faster. We’ve used it while on vacation, plugging in overnight, and my husband uses the Level 1 charger to fill up when he’s got the Jeep at work.
A fully electric vehicle needs several days to fill up with a Level 1 charger. For example, the Volkswagen ID.4 needs 50 hours to charge completely with a Level 1 charger. The level 1 charger adds four miles of range per hour in a Chevy Bolt. If you don’t drive often and most of your miles are around town, a Level 1 charger can suffice. Plug it in at night, and you’ll have more miles of range when you wake.
Some EV drivers keep their Level 1 chargers in their frunk or trunk. Having it in the car reduces range anxiety, simply because you know you’ll always have a charging source. You’ll sit around forever waiting for a percentage or two, but that small amount could get you to the next Level 2 or DC fast charger.
FEATURE IMAGE: RANDI BENTIA
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