How Long Does It Take to Charge an EV?

You have a few options when it comes to charging your new electric vehicle around Bridgeport, each with different ports and plugs. That is why there is no one answer to the question, “How long does it take to charge an electric car?” Electric car charging times vary depending on which charging option you choose and the make and model of your EV. Want to know more? Read on or contact us at Dan Cava's GMC!

What are My Electric Car Charging Options?

1. Domestic Outlet Home Charging (Regular Outlet): A regular grounded (three-prong) 110V/120V charging outlet is called a Level 1 charger. It’s not very fast, but it’s a good option for topping off the charge you used for your Fairmont commute. How long does it take to charge an EV with Level 1 charging? Usually, it takes about 24 hours or more for a full charge. So, expect it to take days, not hours, to charge fully.
2. Installed Brand-Approved Domestic Charging: Level 2 EV charging needs to be professionally installed and brand approved. Level 2 charging uses rapid 240V+ chargers and delivers significantly faster charging rates than Level 1 chargers. It will take hours, not days, for a complete charge. DC fast chargers, instead of AC ones, are also available. Typically you can achieve an 80% charge in half an hour or so with this type of charging method, but the extra 20% takes longer as there’s a diminishing rate of charging speed.
3. Public Charging: Level 3 allows you to charge on the go when you’re out and about in Morgantown. You can find public chargers at parking garages, apartment buildings, shopping malls, and hotels. Sometimes you can even find charging stations at big-box stores like Walgreens, and more charging stations are being added daily. These charging stations vary significantly by type and speed but often provide Level 2 charging rates. Some Level 3 chargers even provide charging using renewable energy such as solar panels or wind turbines!

Typical Electric Car Charging Times

To summarize, electric car charging times vary based on whether you choose Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 charging. Here’s a review:

• Level 1 EV charging can take days to fully charge. 
• Level 2 EV charging takes hours to charge an electric car completely, but a single night of Level 2 charging is generally sufficient to charge your EV fully.
• Level 3 EV charging can recharge most electric cars in an hour or less or provide significantly more range in only 15 minutes.

Remember, Level 3 EV charging is only available in select public locations—but is much faster than the other charging method. Most EV drivers around Grafton combine Level 1 and Level 2 at-home charging in their daily lives and use Level 3 on extended trips.

Hybrid Car Charging Times

If you drive a plug-in hybrid, your charging times could be faster, with about one to four hours to fully charge. The reason is that plug-in hybrid vehicles do not rely only on electricity for power. They use electricity for short trips or under certain speeds, then switch to gasoline power as needed. 

Find Your New Electric Vehicle at Dan Cava's GMC

Now that you know how long to charge an electric car, are you ready to find a new EV that fits your unique needs? Please browse our new or pre-owned EV inventory online and apply for financing so you can take home the vehicle of your dreams!