EV charging time calculator

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Enter your battery capacity, starting and target state of charge, and charger output to estimate charging time, the kWh pulled from the wall, and your cost per session — all from open, transparent formulas.

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EV charging calculator

Charge session estimate

Estimated charge time4 hr 33 min
Wall energy50 kWh
Session cost$8.00
Range gained158 mi
Cost per mile$0.05
SOC change
Battery energy
Wall energy

How the math works

How the math works

  • Energy needed at the battery = Battery capacity × (target SOC − current SOC) ÷ 100.
  • Wall energy = Battery energy ÷ Charging efficiency. Most home AC chargers run 88–92% efficient; cold-weather and DC fast charging can drop below 85%.
  • Charging time = Wall energy ÷ Charger power (kW). DC fast charging slows substantially above ~80% SOC, so most road-trip planners stop at 80%.

Worked examples

Worked examples

Tesla Model Y on a Level 2 home charger

75 kWh battery, 20 → 80% on an 11.5 kW Wall Connector at 90% efficiency → ≈ 4.3 hours and 50 kWh from the wall. At $0.16/kWh that is roughly $8.00 per session.

Ford F-150 Lightning Extended Range on DC fast

131 kWh battery, 10 → 80% at 150 kW peak (≈ 105 kW average due to taper) at 88% efficiency → ≈ 60 minutes and ~104 kWh delivered.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 on Level 1 (overnight)

77 kWh battery, 30 → 80% on a 1.4 kW outlet at 85% efficiency → ≈ 32 hours total — Level 1 is only practical for very low daily miles.

EV charging time FAQ

EV charging time FAQ

Why is my actual charging slower than the calculator?

Real-world DC fast charging tapers from a peak rate down to ~25% at the end of the curve. The calculator uses a steady average; for trip planning subtract ~10% from the peak charger spec.

Does temperature affect charging time?

Yes. Below 0 °C the battery management system pre-conditions and de-rates power, often adding 10–25% to fast-charge time. Home AC charging is barely affected.

Should I charge to 100% every day?

For LFP packs (Tesla Model 3/Y RWD, Ford Standard Range) charging to 100% is recommended weekly. For NMC packs Tesla, Hyundai, and Ford all suggest 80–90% daily.

What efficiency should I use?

Use 90% for typical 7–11 kW home AC charging, 88% for cold-weather garage, and 92% for warm-weather Level 2. DC fast charging averages 88–93% at the battery terminals.

Can I split a Level 2 home charger with another EV?

Most networked chargers (Wallbox, Tesla Wall Connector, ChargePoint) support load balancing. Two cars on a 48 A circuit share ~5.7 kW each, so the calculator time roughly doubles.

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