How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?
It depends on how much energy you need to put back and how fast your car can accept it. For example, adding 36 kWh at a steady 7.2 kW takes five hours before charging losses. A small daily top-up can take much less time than a full recharge.
Start with the top-up you actually need
Imagine a car with a 60 kWh usable battery. Going from 20% to 80% adds 60% of that capacity: 36 kWh. You do not need to replace the entire battery's energy every time you plug in.
The basic estimate is energy to add in kWh divided by charging power in kW. The examples below are arithmetic illustrations, not measured results for a particular car. They assume a constant power level and exclude losses and interruptions.
| Power available to charge | Ideal time |
|---|---|
| 2.3 kW | About 15 hours 40 minutes |
| 7.2 kW | 5 hours |
| 11 kW | About 3 hours 16 minutes |
| 22 kW | About 1 hour 38 minutes |
If you only need to replace 10 kWh after a day's driving, the same calculation at 7.2 kW is about 1 hour 23 minutes before losses. That is a more useful starting point for a daily routine than asking how long an empty-to-full charge takes.
Will a 22 kW charger make every car charge faster?
No. With AC home charging, the car's onboard charger also limits the rate. A vehicle that accepts a maximum of 11 kW AC will not take 22 kW just because the wall unit can supply it. The electrical supply and configured installation limit must support the chosen rate too.
Check the vehicle specification for AC charging. A headline DC rapid-charging figure describes a different charging arrangement. The Australian Government explains these distinctions in its EV charging equipment guide.
Why can the actual session take longer?
The starting charge, battery temperature and vehicle limits affect charging speed. Charging also uses energy outside the battery, so dividing battery energy by the wall unit's rated power is only an ideal estimate. A schedule or load-management setting can reduce the power or pause a session.
Follow your vehicle manufacturer's recommended charge limit. The 20–80% example above is a calculation example, not a charging rule for every battery chemistry.
What should I send before choosing a home charger?
- Your car's make, model and year, plus its AC charging specification if you have it.
- How much you normally drive and when the car is parked at home.
- Whether you have solar or a home battery.
- A photo of the parking position and the outside of the closed switchboard.
For a Northern Beaches or North Shore installation, these details help Electrical3 discuss the charging rate, cable route and installation scope. If the car is home during daylight hours, also read how solar charging works.