How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car? Formula and Example

All tools: Auto & EV Tools

Estimate EV charging time from battery capacity, starting and target charge, charger power and efficiency.

Open the free tool →

Charging time formula

Energy added to the battery = usable capacity × (target state of charge − starting state of charge) ÷ 100. Approximate time in hours = energy added ÷ (charger power × charging efficiency). Use kWh and kW so the result is in hours.

Example: a 60 kWh battery on a 7.2 kW charger

Charging from 20% to 80% adds 60 × 0.60 = 36 kWh to the battery. At 90% efficiency, approximate time is 36 ÷ (7.2 × 0.90) = 5.56 hours. This is a simplified estimate, not a promised charging session duration.

Why actual charging can take longer

The car may accept less power than the charger can provide. Temperature, battery conditioning, shared circuits and tapering at high charge levels affect the rate. Public DC charging often slows as the battery approaches full; a constant-power formula does not model that curve.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use charger or vehicle power? Use the lower power limit. Does the calculator include charging losses? Enter an efficiency estimate if the tool supports it. Can I assume full power to 100%? Usually not; charging commonly slows at higher states of charge.