Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular among drivers who want to be environmentally friendly and have an avant-garde design. But one obstacle for those who want to switch from gasoline-powered vehicles to EVs is the time it takes to charge them. The amount of time it takes to charge an electric car depends on several factors, such as the type of charger, the size of the battery, and the desired charging capacity. Level 1 chargers, which use a 120-volt source, can take 40 to 50 hours to charge a battery electric vehicle (BEV) to 80 percent when empty and 5 to 6 hours in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
This is because there is a battery charger in the car that converts alternating current electricity from the wall into direct current electricity to charge the battery. Built-in chargers safely insert energy into the battery pack and have their own power ratings, usually in kilowatts. For example, if a car has a 10 kW charger and a 100 kWh battery, it would theoretically take 10 hours to charge a completely dead battery. Variables such as temperature, time of day and desired charging capacity also determine how long it takes to charge an electric car.
How long your electric vehicle stays charged depends on its range estimated by the EPA, the speed at which you drive, the outside temperature, the age of the battery and other factors. Charging stations for electric vehicles are usually classified as Level 2 or Level 3; however, even an electrical outlet at home will charge your electric vehicle (albeit quite slowly). Luxury electric vehicles with large batteries are often combined with integrated battery chargers that can quickly receive and convert energy from the power plant. Third-party manufacturers, such as Electrify America and SparkCharge, have also begun producing DCFCs for cars that can use them. With intelligent charging for electric vehicles, you can customize when and for how long the vehicle is charged. Some low-cost electric vehicles have enough range for the daily needs of most drivers, while other luxury models have a range that rivals or even exceeds that of many traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
The good thing about having an electricity source well paired with an integrated charger is that you can plug in your electric vehicle at home with the battery almost dead and have a fully charged steed waiting for you in the morning. Many are already designed to generate much more energy than current electric vehicle batteries can receive, so the future looks promising with extremely short charging times.
