How Long Does It Take To Charge An EV? A Breakdown Of Charging Speeds & What To Expect At Roadchef

How long does it take to charge an EV?

The million-pound question posed by all EV drivers, old and new, is ‘How long does it take to recharge my EV?’ That’s understandable when Britain’s motorists have been so used to refuelling in mere minutes with traditional ICE vehicles.

Many factors can affect the time you’ll be waiting for your vehicle to hit the magic (and recommended) 80% charge rate, including the vehicle type, the battery size, the charger speed, and the quality of the cable. Even the weather conditions can affect the time it takes to recharge.

Of course, the speediest option is Roadchef’s range of 360kW-capable chargers available at multiple Roadchef locations.

So, What Affects EV Charging Time?

Charging isn’t as simple as plugging in and walking away. Unlike recharging your phone or plugging in a hairdryer, you’re dealing with multiple factors that can determine how quickly your EV will charge.

In this section, we’ll be delving into the reasons why your vehicle might take a variety of different times to charge.

Battery Size & State of Charge

In the case of electric vehicles, size matters - especially when it comes to charge time and range.

Of course, a bigger battery will take longer to charge than a smaller one. For example, the smaller Fiat 500e only has a 37kWh battery pack, due to its size and expected minimal long-distance driving requirements

At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes Benz EQS has a 118kWh battery pack delivering over 3 times the expected range of its Italian EV counterpart.

One thing that links these two vehicles (and many other EVS in between) is that charging from 10% to 80% is much faster than the first 10% or the final 20%. This is often due to unique battery management systems that controls the flow of power to your car to avoid damage to the battery in the long term.

Charger Speed & Power Output

This is the most obvious one that will affect your vehicle charge, but choosing the correct time of charger for your break is important for maximum efficiency.

In the simplest of terms, the higher the kW capability on the charger, the faster the charge.

You’ll often find 3kW-22kW chargers at home or workplaces - place you’re going to be for a long time. These are often referred to as ‘trickle chargers’.

Luckily for those staying at our affordable, stylish Super 8 by Wyndham Chester or Super 8 by Wyndham Durham hotels, you can pre-book and reserve ‘trickle charging’ for the duration of your stay. You can then wake up and enjoy a fully charged vehicle for the journey onward.

Second, you’ll find medium powered chargers which are capable of charging your vehicle from 10%-80% in roughly an hour to 90 minutes.

These are ideal to plug in, head inside the main Roadchef motorway services building and treat yourself to a McDonald’s meal, Costa Coffee, a LEON salad or that iconic motorway services browse round WHSmith or our new Roadchef & Co-op stores.

Finally, and you’ll find these across the Roadchef and GRIDSERVE network are high-powered charging hubs.

These chargers offer up to 360KW and can get motorists 100 miles of charge in little under 10 minutes.

Whilst there are only a handful of vehicles on the road at the moment that can support 360kW charging, these are becoming increasingly more common.

The latest technological advancements is now seeing the addition of 400kW-capable chargers too, meaning you’ll be back on the road in no time.

Temperature & Battery Conditioning

When the temperature drops, it takes longer for anything to happen. Just think about how long it takes you to get out of bed in the depths of December compared to sunny days in July.

Your EV battery is no different. Colder climates will slow down the charge rate of your vehicle.

The effects of chilly weather can be limited by pre-conditioning your battery, a system that warms up the battery prior to plugging in. Many vehicles offer this functionality including many Tesla models and the newer Kia EV6.

What Do Manufacturers Promise on Charging Speeds?

Promises, promises, promises - there’s a lot to read when you’re looking to make the leap into EV.

Manufacturers will use ‘rapid charging’ and ‘quicker charging times’ online and in their brochures, but remember that real-world conditions will vary based on the factors discussed above.

Below though, we’ve pulled a view claims from manufacturers websites to see what you could get from your EV.

• Kia EV-3 Standard range: 10% - 80% in 29 minutes, on a 150kW charger
• BYD Seal: 30% - 80% in 26 minutes, on a 150KW charger
• Audi Q4 E-tron: 10% - 80% in 24 to 28 minutes

What to Do While Your EV Charges at Roadchef

There’s nothing worse than twiddling your thumbs or ‘doom scrolling’ through your phone whilst your EV recharges. That’s why Roadchef are ensuring that your charging time is ‘time well spent’ rather than ‘wasted moments’.

For those in a hurry or those making the most of our high-powered chargers, you’ve got plenty of time to use our award-winning toilet facilities before grabbing a coffee and unwinding for a few moments.

All 31 Roadchef sites boast Britain’s favourite coffee shop - that’s Costa Coffee for those not in the know.

Our McDonald’s units are 24/7 for that ‘refuel’ to stop the tummy rumbling, whilst twelve Roadchef motorway services across the United Kingdom have faster, better-for-you food available at LEON.

For those plugging in on our AC chargers or with vehicles taking slightly longer to recharge, our home brand units - like Fresh Food Cafe -offer sit down dishes to enjoy whilst Coco di Mama and Chozen Noodle offer Italian and Asian inspired dishes respectively for a well-earned break.

Those missing the essentials can grab them, at ease, from WHSmith or our new Roadchef & Co-op stores.

If you need a few minutes with a newspaper or a book to think about something other than the road, our WHSmith stores offer a bumper range of reads.

Our free Wi-Fi and in-motorway service area charge points make it easy to work, answer emails, play games or stream your favourite shows to stop thinking of the journey ahead for a few moments.

Or, whilst the sun is shining, why not stretch your legs in our walking areas? Enjoy the views at Annandale Water or Killington Lake whilst your vehicle recharges at their on-site 360kW capable chargers.

Whatever it is you need to do, we’ve got it covered at Roadchef.

Whatever you need, Roadchef Has You Covered

Whilst charging time depends on multiple factors, we’re making it quicker, easier and more convenient than ever to get your vehicle back on the road.

With reliable, best-in-class vehicle chargers outside and the UK’s favourite brands inside, both you and your vehicle can hit the road again recharged and ready for the journey ahead.

Why not plan your journey ahead and avoid the worry of EV range anxiety? You can find your nearest high-powered EV Charging Solution at Roadchef by clicking the button below.