For many people considering purchasing an electric car, the first question is often: how long does it take to charge an electric car? However, the answer is not straightforward. There are several factors that affect the charging time of an electric car. Let’s take a closer look at those.

Capacity of the battery

For the charging time of an electric car, the capacity of the battery is crucial. This capacity is expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The greater the battery capacity, the longer it takes to fully charge the battery. This means that cars with greater range typically take longer to be fully charged.

The power of the charging station

Charging an electric car can be done in two ways, AC chargers (standard chargers) and DC chargers (fast chargers).

AC chargers

AC charging stations are most common in the Netherlands. These charging poles are often located in places where people stay longer and provide lower power. The capacity of AC chargers ranges from 3.7 to 22 kW.

DC chargers

There are fewer DC charging stations compared to AC charging stations in the Netherlands. DC charging stations are meant to charge on the go. Hence, DC charging stations must deliver as much power as possible to the battery in a short period of time. The capacity of DC chargers is at least 47kW and can reach up to 350kW.

How fast your car can charge

AC charging station

The power coming from the grid is always AC. However, an electric car’s battery can only store DC power. To charge a car, AC power is converted to DC power through an inverter. Newer cars have better inverters, so it can charge faster. For example, today it is normal for an electric car to charge 11 kW per hour. Hybrid cars and cars that are parents can often charge less kW per hour. So, for example, the charging station might provide 22 kW, but because the car can draw 11 kW, your car’s charging rate is 11 kW per hour.

DC charging station

With DC charging, the current is also converted from AC to DC. However, with DC charging stations, the inverter is built into the charging station. As a result, the current is routed directly to the car’s battery and the power a charging station can offer is higher. However, it is important to check if your car supports fast charging, as not every electric car supports it. In addition, it is important to see how many kW per hour the car can absorb through a DC charger. This differs per car.

So, for example, the charging station could deliver 300kW, but because the car can absorb 70 kW via fast charging, your car’s charging speed is 70 kW per hour.

How empty the battery is

The current charge status of the battery also plays a role in how long it takes to fully charge the battery. It is recommended that a battery not be completely drained before charging. Doing so unnecessarily prolongs the charging time.

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Different type of chargers

There are different types of chargers available for fast charging electric cars, namely AC chargers (slow chargers) and DC chargers(fast chargers). The choice of charger can significantly affect the charging time.

AC charging stations

To determine how fast your car charges at an AC charging station, you depend on the above factors. Below is an example of how to calculate your charging time.

You come home and see that your car’s 60kWh battery is 30%. You want to top up the battery to 100%, so you will need to top up 42 kW to do so. You put the car at an Opcharge public charging station, which can deliver a power of 22 kW per hour. However, your car’s charging rate is 11 kW per hour. To fully charge the car, the car will need to be at the charging station for a little less than 4 hours.

DC charging stations

After long rides, you naturally want to quickly recharge your battery. But even with fast charging, you are dependent on the above factors. Below is an example of how to calculate charging time. You are on the road and see that you are not going to make it to your destination. The battery is 10% and so you want to quickly top up to 60%. For this you need to top up 30kW and so you will charge at a fast charger, which can deliver a power of 80 kW per hour.

Because the charging rate of your car is up to 200 kW with fast chargers, you use the full power of the charging station. To fully charge the car, the car will take about 22 minutes to recharge the 30 kW.

Tips for charging your car as fast as possible

Scheduling a charging session can help minimize charging time. You can do this by using a public charging station during your daily routine. When you top up your car when you run errands or when you are at work, you can make the most of the charging time.

For quick and efficient access to a public charging station, the charging card offers a solution. Since all charging stations in the Netherlands are equipped with this feature, a charging pass helps to quickly start a charging session. Also try to minimize energy consumption while driving. In fact, using air conditioning and heating cause the battery to drain faster. By being energy conscious, you ensure that a battery lasts longer and charging sessions are shorter.

Wondering where our public charging stations are located?

Opcharge is working hard and every day cities are being equipped with public or business charging stations. Meanwhile, we are active in a large number of Dutch cities, such as Breda, Tilburg, Arnhem, Eindhoven and Dordrecht. Click here for an up-to-date overview. Are you curious how long you can park at a charging station? Then click on the link. Ready to minimize electric car charging time and get the most out of your electric driving experience? Choose Opcharge today!