How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

There are a couple of different options when it comes to charging your new electric vehicle in Amber, there are different plugs and ports, but with available charging adapters, you won’t be tied to one charging method. Your Chevy Bolt EV charging time varies depending on which of these options you choose. This is also depending on what type, make, and model of EV you drive. This is all due to the different battery packs that different electric vehicles use.

There isn’t a definitive answer to this question or a one-size-fits-all answer, but you can get a very good idea of the model or manufacturer-specific times. Here we dive into the info about the three main types of EV charging: domestic charging, rapid domestic charging, and public charging, and how your choice of each will ultimately determine your electric vehicle charging time. 

Electric Car Charging Times: Charging Options

1. Domestic Outlet Home Charging (Regular Outlet): A normal grounded (three-prong) 110V/120V charging outlet (Level 1 Charging) isn’t a very fast option, but it’s good for topping off some of the charge that you used commuting to work that day. It usually takes around 24 hours or more for a full charge. So if you are driving frequently, expect it to take days to charge fully with this method.
2. Installed Brand-Approved Domestic Charging: Level 2 Charging is typically professionally installed. Level 2 charging uses rapid (usually 240V+) chargers typically made for your brand of car specifically. This will have significantly faster charging rates than using a regular grounded household outlet. DC fast chargers (as opposed to AC ones) are also common. It’s relatively common to obtain an 80% charge in half an hour or forty minutes with this type of charging method, but that extra 20% will take longer as there’s a diminishing rate of charging speed.
3. Public Charging: You can charge in Tabler at parking garages, malls, hotels, and grocery stores. Often you will find charging stations at big-name national stores like Walgreens and Kohls, and more charging stations are being added every day across the country. They vary in type and speed, but often provide Level 2 charging speeds for greater convenience. Some public chargers even offer emissions-free renewable energy charging with solar panels or wind turbines!

Typical Domestic Charging Electric Car Charging Time

Domestic car charging times vary based on whether you choose Level 1 or Level 2 charging. Here’s more on that:

• Level 1 EV charging often takes days to fully charge an electric car. 
• Level 2 EV charging often takes several hours to fully charge an electric car. You can often get between 60-200 miles of range in just 20-30 minutes with Level 2 DC charging, though. For this reason, most people intermix daytime “top-off” charging with overnight charging.

Do you drive a plug-in hybrid? Your charging times could be much less. Chances are this type of vehicle will take between 1-4 hours to fully charge. Why? Plug-in hybrid vehicles do not rely solely on electricity as an energy source! Often, they use electric range fully for a small amount of time or under certain speeds, then switch over to gasoline power. 

Average Public Charging Electric Car Charging Time

Home chargers offer 3.7 kW or 7 kW charging on average. Public stations, meanwhile, offer 22 kW charging, 43-50 kW rapid charging, and 150 kW rapid charging. You may be shocked to learn that for some applicable vehicles, you could foreseeably get a full charge (0-100%) in an hour or so. In other cases, it could take 4 hours, 6 hours, or 11 hours for a full charge. 

Bolt EV Charging Times

The Chevy Bolt EV is one of the new Chevrolet electric vehicles. It has an EPA-estimated 259-mile range. Here are the details on the Chevy Bolt EV charging times according to the types of chargers.

• Level 1 Basic Charging (120-Volt Portable Charger Cord) – Add 4 miles of range per hour
• Level 2 Fast Charging (240-Volt Home Charging Unit) – Add 26 miles of range per hour
• Level 2 Fast Charging (Public Charging Station) – Add 39 miles of range per hour
• Level 3 Super Fast Charging (DC Public Charging Station) – Add 100 miles of range in 30 minutes

Test Drive Your Next EV in Norge

Let the team at John Holt Auto Group, Inc. help you find the perfect EV today, and for less, by taking advantage of our new vehicle specials for even more ways to save. Between them and the federal tax credits, you’ll be able to save some significant cash. Apply for financing online from the comfort of your own home as well. Or contact us to schedule a test drive today.