How long does it take to charge an EV at home?
On a typical 7.7 kW Level 2 charger, a 75 kWh battery goes from 20% to 80% in about 6.6 h; the same charge on a 120 V outlet takes about 36.5 h. Replacing a day's 35 miles of driving needs roughly 1.5 h on Level 2 and 8.5 h on Level 1.
Charging time by charger and battery size
| Charger | 60 kWh | 75 kWh | 100 kWh | Per day for 35 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1, 120 V outlet | 29.2 h | 36.5 h | 48.7 h | 8.5 h |
| Level 2, 32 A (7.7 kW) | 5.3 h | 6.6 h | 8.9 h | 1.5 h |
| Level 2, 40 A (9.6 kW) | 4.3 h | 5.3 h | 7.1 h | 1.2 h |
| Level 2, 48 A (11.5 kW) | 3.6 h | 4.4 h | 5.9 h | 1.0 h |
| Level 2, 80 A (19.2 kW) | 2.1 h | 2.7 h | 3.6 h | 37 min |
The formula
Hours = battery kWh × (target % − starting %) ÷ (charger kW × (1 − loss)). The charger's rating is what the wall supplies; the battery receives the rest after charger, cable and battery-management losses, taken here as 12%. A 7.7 kW charger therefore adds about 6.8 kWh to the pack per hour.
Why your real session will differ
- Your car's onboard charger caps AC charging. Many EVs accept 7.2 to 11.5 kW; a 19.2 kW charger only helps if the car can take it.
- Taper. Above about 80% most cars slow down to protect the battery. The table stops at 80% for that reason; the last 20% can take as long as the previous 30%.
- Temperature. A cold battery charges more slowly and may spend energy warming itself first.
- DC fast charging is not on this page. It depends on the car's peak rate and curve far more than on the charger, and 20% to 80% typically runs 20 to 45 minutes on a 150 kW or faster unit.
Circuit sizing, briefly
A Level 2 charger draws 80% of its circuit's rating continuously: a 40 A circuit supports a 32 A charger (7.7 kW at 240 V), a 50 A circuit a 40 A charger (9.6 kW), a 60 A circuit a 48 A charger (11.5 kW). The electrician and the panel decide, not the charger box.