EV Charging Speed Comparison

This table shows approximately how many kilometres of range each charger type adds per hour of charging, based on a typical EV efficiency of 16 kWh per 100 km.

This table shows how long it takes to charge a 100 kWh battery from 10% to 80% at each charger power level. This 70 kWh charge window is a common real-world charging scenario, particularly for long distance travel.

Faster chargers are more convenient but typically cost more per kWh. This table shows what the same 70 kWh charging session (10% to 80% on a 100 kWh battery) costs at each price point.

AC charging

AC (alternating current) charging uses the vehicle's onboard charger to convert AC power from the grid into DC power for the battery. This limits charging speed to whatever the vehicle's onboard charger can handle — typically 7 kW to 22 kW depending on the vehicle.

AC charging is most common at home, workplaces and destination locations such as shopping centres and hotels where vehicles are parked for several hours.

DC charging

DC (direct current) fast charging bypasses the vehicle's onboard charger and delivers power directly to the battery through a more powerful external charger. This allows much higher charging speeds, from 50 kW up to 350 kW at some sites.

DC charging is used at public fast charging stations, typically along highways and in urban hubs where drivers need to add range quickly. Most EVs charge fastest between roughly 10% and 80% battery level, after which the charging speed reduces to protect the battery.

Which is better?

Neither is inherently better, they serve different purposes. AC charging is cheaper and ideal for overnight home charging or long stops. DC charging is faster and more convenient for road trips and quick top-ups. Most EV owners use a combination of both.

The figures in the tables above assume constant power delivery at the charger's rated speed. In practice, several factors affect how fast an EV actually charges.

Vehicle charging limit

Every EV has a maximum charging rate set by the vehicle. Plugging into a 250 kW ultra rapid charger does not guarantee 250 kW if the vehicle can only accept 150 kW. The charging speed is always limited to whichever is lower — the charger or the vehicle.

Battery state of charge

EV batteries charge fastest when they are at a lower or mid state of charge and slow down as they approach full. This is why charging from 10% to 80% is much faster than charging from 80% to 100%. The slowdown protects the battery from excess heat and stress.

Temperature

Cold weather can significantly reduce charging speed, particularly for DC fast charging. Many modern EVs use battery preconditioning to warm the battery before a fast charging session, which helps restore normal charging speeds.

Charger availability

Some charger sites share power between multiple stalls. If several vehicles are charging at once, each may receive less than the charger's maximum rated power.