How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

Before you make the switch to an EV and all of the benefits that can come from that, you might be wondering how long does it take to charge an electric car? After all, no one wants to wait hours on end for their vehicle to charge, and with more manufacturers making the switch to EVs in the coming years, it’s important to know. The good news is when it comes to electric car charging times, you have several options, each with different plugs and ports, however, electric car charging times vary depending on your choice of charger and vehicle. Learn more about how long does it take to charge an electric car and so much more below, and contact us with any questions or to schedule a test drive.

Electric Car Charging Time

These are the three types of electric car chargers available for your Bloomington lifestyle. Most people use all three.:

1. Domestic Outlet Home Charging (Regular Outlet): A standard grounded three-prong 110V/120V household outlet is called Level 1. This method delivers a slow charge but helps top off some of the electric power used during your Minnetonka commute. Level 1 charging takes about 24 hours or more to get a complete charge. 
2. Professionally installed Brand-Approved Domestic Charging: Level 2 Chargers must be installed by a professional electrician. They use rapid (240V+) chargers made specifically for your Chevy Bolt or other brand. Level 2 chargers provide significantly faster charging times than a standard household outlet. With DC fast chargers, you can obtain an 80% charge in about a half hour to forty minutes, but the last 20% takes much longer because of a diminishing rate of charging speed.
3. Public Charging Stations in Hopkins (Level 3): Level 3 chargers are at parking garages, shopping malls, big-box stores, grocery stores, and even apartment buildings. Public charging stations vary significantly by brand and charging speed but often offer Level 2 charging speeds. Some public chargers even offer emissions-free renewable energy charging with solar panels or wind turbines!

Summary of Electric Car Charging Times

Remember, electric car charging times vary depending on whether you use Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 charging. Below is a summary of electric car charging times:

• Level 1 charging can take a full day or longer to charge an electric car. 
• Level 2 charging takes a few hours or more to charge your car. Generally, overnight Level 2 charging is adequate.
• Level 3 or public electric car charging can often fully recharge your EV in an hour or less. 

Most EV drivers around Eden Prairie use a combination of all of them. If you drive a plug-in hybrid, your charging times will likely be much faster, around one to four hours to charge fully because plug-in hybrid vehicles don’t only use electricity, they use electricity first and switch to gas when they run out of electric charge. 

Find Your Electric Vehicle at Suburban Chevrolet Today

Now that we’ve answered the common question, “How long does it take to charge an electric car?” if you’re ready to test drive an EV or PHEV, please contact us today. If you’re ready to make the switch to an EV, like the Chevy Bolt, then apply for financing online and our finance department will take care of the hard part for you. That way you can get back on the road sooner, and start enjoying all the benefits when it comes when you own an electric vehicle.