We’ve shared a guide explaining how electric vehicle charging speed works for EV users.
What are the types of chargers, and how long do they take?
AC Chargers
AC chargers or ‘Alternating Current’ chargers could be as little as 3kw/7kw to 22kw, and range from a ‘slow’ to a ‘fast’ charge. Despite AC chargers known as ‘slow’ or ‘fast’ charging, they’re not that fast, compared to a DC charger. A typical charge time on an AC charger ranges from 1 hour to 12 hours, depending on the charger’s power and battery size.
For example, a 7.4 kW AC charger will take 3h 45m for a 25 kWh battery and 10 hours for a 75 kWh battery. In comparison, an 11 kW AC charger takes 2 hours for a 25 kWh battery and 6 hours and 45 minutes for a 75 kWh battery.
We offer two different AC charging types: the 7.4 kW commercial EV charger and the 22 kW commercial EV charger.
The 7.4 kW commercial chargers are ideal for businesses where vehicles and customers stay for a long time, such as schools, local authorities and hotels. They add 25 – 30 miles of range per hour and take approximately 8-12 hours to top up a 50 kWh battery.
The 22 kW commercial EV chargers are three-phase dual AC charging units. They utilise an onboard power converter, charging cars as fast as possible without the higher costs of DC (direct current) chargers. 22kw chargers are ideal for hospitals, garages, office car parks and local authorities and can take around 3-4 hours for a full charge.
Slower chargers (or fast, depending on how you look at it) benefit businesses with lower costs and can increase customers’ duration at a business’s premises.
DC Chargers
DC chargers are known as rapid chargers. They deliver power between 40 kW - 400 kW and take as little as 15 minutes to charge a vehicle from 10% - 80%. DC chargers are helpful for older electric cars or smaller batteries, as the speed can be increased. We offer a 40 kW direct current commercial EV charger as the ideal solution for businesses looking for quick and affordable DC chargers.
These chargers are usually found at shopping centres, taxi stands, service stations and restaurants.
What affects the charging time for an electric car?
The charging speed is affected by the battery size and the maximum current the vehicle can take. Bigger batteries take longer to charge, even with a faster charger. The charging unit and its power outlet can also affect the speed.
Other factors can affect the charging time, including extreme weather. Cold weather can reduce the charge rate, and heat can reduce capacity.
Future-proof your business today with Devitech. Our team will arrange a site assessment to see if your site is suitable for EV charging installation.
