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Free tool

EV charge time calculator

How long a charge takes — and, more usefully, which of the car or the charger is holding it back. DC estimates are derated for the charging curve rather than pretending peak power is sustained.

Charging type

Estimated time

4 hr 52 min

Energy needed
36 kWh
Session limited to
7.4 kW
Average delivered
7.4 kW

Limiting factor: charger

The charger is the limit. The car could accept 11 kW, but this unit delivers 7.4 kW.

What this assumes

  • AC charging is close to linear, so this estimate is reliable.
  • A single-phase domestic supply caps AC charging at about 7.4 kW.
  • AC charging holds a near-constant rate, so this estimate is dependable.
  • Excludes time spent plugging in, authenticating and waiting for a free bay.

Why peak power is the wrong number

A car advertised at “250 kW charging” reaches 250 kW briefly, near the bottom of the battery, in good conditions. It then tapers — and the area under that curve, not the peak, is what decides how long you wait.

A car peaking at 150 kW that holds it can comfortably beat one that touches 250 kW and drops away. See why DC charging slows near 80% for what is happening in the cells.

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