One of the most common questions from new EV owners is "how long will it take to charge?" The answer depends on three main factors: your charger's power output, your car's battery size, and how depleted the battery is.
The Quick Answer
For a typical home charger and a mid-sized EV:
| Charger Type | Power | Time for Full Charge* |
|---|---|---|
| 3-pin plug socket | 2.3 kW | 20–30 hours |
| Dedicated home charger | 7 kW | 6–10 hours |
| Fast home charger (3-phase) | 22 kW | 2–4 hours |
*Based on a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 100%
Understanding Charging Power
3-Pin Plug Socket (2.3 kW)
The slowest option. A standard UK socket can deliver about 2.3 kW safely for continuous charging. This adds approximately:
Standard Home Charger (7 kW)
The most common domestic installation in the UK. A 7 kW charger adds:
Three-Phase Charger (22 kW)
Only possible if your home has a three-phase electricity supply (rare in UK residential properties). Adds:
Charging Times by Battery Size
Here's how long a 7 kW home charger takes to charge different EVs from 20% to 80%:
| Vehicle | Battery Size | Charging Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500e | 42 kWh | 3.5 hours |
| MG4 Standard | 51 kWh | 4.5 hours |
| VW ID.3 Pro | 58 kWh | 5 hours |
| Tesla Model 3 LR | 75 kWh | 6.5 hours |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 LR | 77 kWh | 6.5 hours |
| BMW iX xDrive50 | 105 kWh | 9 hours |
| Mercedes EQS 450+ | 108 kWh | 9.5 hours |
Note: Charging from 20% to 80% is the most efficient range. Charging the last 20% (80–100%) takes disproportionately longer due to battery protection systems.
The Charging Time Formula
You can calculate charging time yourself:
Charging time (hours) = Battery capacity (kWh) × Charge needed (%) ÷ Charger power (kW)
Example:
Factors That Affect Charging Speed
1. Your Car's Onboard Charger
Every EV has a maximum AC charging rate built in. Even if you have a 22 kW home charger, many cars are limited to:
Check your car's specifications to know its AC charging limit.
2. Battery Temperature
Batteries charge most efficiently when warm (20–25°C). Cold batteries charge more slowly because the car's battery management system limits power to protect the cells. This is especially noticeable in winter.
3. State of Charge
Charging slows down significantly above 80% to protect battery longevity. The last 20% can take almost as long as the first 60%.
4. Battery Degradation
Over time (typically after many years and high mileage), battery capacity decreases slightly. A battery that originally held 60 kWh might hold 55 kWh after 100,000 miles, meaning faster "full" charges but less range.
5. Charger and Cable Quality
Cheap or damaged cables can reduce charging power. Always use the cable supplied with your charger or a quality replacement.
Practical Home Charging Patterns
Most EV drivers don't charge from empty to full every day. Instead, they follow patterns like:
Daily Top-Up Charging
Weekend Charging
Pre-Trip Charging
Smart Charging: Optimising Your Schedule
Modern home chargers and EVs allow scheduled charging:
Benefits of Scheduled Charging
Setting Up Scheduled Charging
Most chargers offer scheduling via:
Do You Need to Charge Every Night?
Not necessarily. Consider your daily mileage:
| Daily Mileage | Weekly Charging Needed |
|---|---|
| 20 miles | Once per week |
| 40 miles | 2–3 times per week |
| 60 miles | Every other day |
| 100+ miles | Daily charging |
Most UK drivers cover around 20–30 miles daily, meaning two or three charges per week is plenty.
Summary
For the typical UK EV owner with a 7 kW home charger:
Home charging fits seamlessly into daily life. Plug in when you get home, unplug in the morning, and you'll almost always have enough charge for your day. The days of waiting at petrol stations are replaced by charging while you sleep.