How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle?

Many Arlington drivers find themselves with questions about electric vehicles, like “What’s the difference between hybrids and EVs?” or “What are the benefits of EV ownership?” But, another commonly asked question is “How long does it really take to charge an electric vehicle?”, and we’d love to walk you through the answer at Alexandria Volkswagen. The average electric car charging time will vary depending on your vehicle, but also on your charging level. Get to know the differences between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 chargers below, and get mores VW information with us in Alexandria.

What are My Electric Car Charging Options?

1. Domestic Outlet Home Charging (Level 1): Drivers can plug into any normal grounded (three-prong) 110V/120V charging outlet to access Level 1 charging speeds. This is the slowest method, but the most readily available. EVs will need days worth of charging, but a PHEV might just need a few hours.
2. Installed Domestic Charging (Level 2): Most EV drivers around Springfield and Washington D.C. opt for a professionally-installed charging system in their home. This brings up your charging speeds quite a bit, and it gives you the convenience of charging your EV from red to green overnight.
3. Public Charging (Level 2 or 3): Every year, more and more electric charging stations pop up around town. You’ll find them everywhere from apartments to malls to parking garages. Most are Level 2 charging levels, but you can also find Level 3 Fast Chargers that can charge your car in less than an hour. Some public charging stations even use renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.

Home vs. Public Electric Car Charging Time

Home chargers usually use around 3.7 kW or 7 kW of charging power. Public stations, on the other hand, are capable of utilizing much higher voltages – anywhere from 22 kW regular charging to 43-50 kW fast charging or even 150 kW rapid charging! That means that your at-home electric car charging time will usually run between 4 to 11 hours for a full charge, while a public charging station might give you a full charge in an hour’s time.

Find Your Electric Vehicle Near Springfield

Want to try out the latest and greatest in eco-friendly technology? Get to know models like the e-Golf or the ID.4 at Alexandria Volkswagen in Alexandria, and find out how an EV can make your commutes better than ever. Contact us for more information or just stop by our showroom in Alexandria!