How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?

Using a dedicated 7 kW home charger (the most common UK installation), charging a typical 60 kWh EV from 20% to 80% takes approximately 5-6 hours. This is ideal for overnight charging — plug in when you get home, and it's ready in the morning. Using a 3-pin plug (2.3 kW 'granny charger'), the same charge takes 15-18 hours and is only recommended for occasional or emergency use.

Why does charging slow down above 80%?

Rapid and ultra-rapid DC chargers deliver high power up to about 80% state of charge (SoC). Above 80%, the battery management system (BMS) reduces charging power to protect the battery cells from overheating and degradation. Charging from 80% to 100% can take almost as long as 20% to 80%. This is why most EV drivers charge to 80% for daily use and only charge to 100% for long trips.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK?

At the average UK electricity rate of ~24.5p/kWh (as of 2025-2026), charging a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80% costs approximately £8.82. Using an off-peak tariff like Octopus Go at 7p/kWh, the same charge costs just £2.52. Public rapid chargers are more expensive at 60-80p/kWh, making the same charge £21-28. Home charging is by far the cheapest option.

Do I need a 7 kW charger or is a 3-pin plug enough?

A dedicated 7 kW charger is strongly recommended for regular EV use. It charges 3× faster than a 3-pin plug, is safer for sustained high-current charging, qualifies for smart tariff integration, and is required for the OZEV grant (£350 off installation for qualifying landlords/renters). A 3-pin plug should only be used for emergency or very occasional charging — sustained use can overload household wiring.

What is the difference between AC and DC charging?

AC charging (3-pin, 7 kW, 22 kW) sends alternating current to the car's onboard charger, which converts it to DC for the battery. It's slower but cheaper to install. DC charging (50 kW, 150 kW, 350 kW) bypasses the onboard charger and feeds DC directly to the battery via CCS connector, allowing much faster charging. Most home chargers are AC; most public rapid chargers are DC.

Can I charge my EV with solar panels?

Yes, and it's increasingly popular in the UK. A 4 kWp solar system generates enough energy on a sunny day to add 50-80 miles of range. Smart EV chargers like myenergi zappi can be set to only charge when solar surplus is available, effectively giving you free fuel. Combined with a home battery, you can store daytime solar and charge your EV overnight. Use our Solar Battery Storage Calculator for sizing.

EV Charging Time Calculator — How Long to Charge an Electric Car?

EV Charging Time Calculator

Calculate how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle from any charger type, with electricity cost estimates.

Vehicle (or custom)

Select your EV or enter a custom battery size

Battery Capacity

Total usable battery capacity

Current Charge Level

Current battery percentage

Target Charge Level

Desired battery percentage

Charger Type

Power rating of the charger

Electricity Rate

Your electricity unit rate (home ~24.5p, off-peak ~7p, public rapid ~60-80p)

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle based on your battery size, current charge level, target charge level and charger power.

Basic formula

Charging time = Energy needed / Charger power

Where: Energy needed = Battery capacity × (Target% - Current%) / 100

Charging curve (rapid chargers)

DC rapid chargers (50 kW and above) cannot maintain full power above approximately 80% state of charge. The battery management system reduces power to protect cell health. This calculator accounts for this by splitting the charge into two phases:

Below 80%: Full rated charger power
Above 80%: Reduced to ~35% of rated power

Charging efficiency

Not all energy from the grid reaches the battery. AC chargers (3-pin, 7 kW, 22 kW) have approximately 90% efficiency — 10% is lost as heat in the onboard charger and cables. DC chargers are slightly more efficient at ~95%. The calculator accounts for these losses.

Charger types

3-pin plug: 2.3 kW (10A) — emergency/occasional use only
7 kW home charger: Single-phase AC — the UK standard for home charging
22 kW: Three-phase AC — workplaces and destination chargers
50 kW rapid: DC CCS/CHAdeMO — motorway services, public hubs
150 kW ultra-rapid: DC CCS — newest public rapid chargers

Cost calculation

Cost = Energy needed × Electricity rate. Home charging at the standard UK rate costs approximately 24.5p/kWh. Off-peak tariffs can reduce this to 7-10p/kWh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.

EV Charging Time Calculator

How We Calculate This

Basic formula

Charging curve (rapid chargers)

Charging efficiency

Charger types

Cost calculation

Frequently Asked Questions

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