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EV Charging Time Calculator
Calculate how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle from any charger type, with electricity cost estimates.
Total usable battery capacity
Current battery percentage
Desired battery percentage
Your electricity unit rate — Ofgem cap is 26.11p/kWh for 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026 (it changes every quarter, so check the current cap). Off-peak EV tariffs ~7p, public rapid ~60–80p.
Fraction of rated power above 80% SoC for rapid chargers (default 0.35)
Efficiency for AC chargers (3-pin, 7kW, 22kW) — default 0.90 (90%)
Efficiency for DC rapid chargers — default 0.95 (95%)
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How We Calculate This
This calculator estimates how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle based on your battery size, current charge level, target charge level and charger power.
Basic formula
Charging time = Energy needed / Charger power
Where: Energy needed = Battery capacity × (Target% - Current%) / 100
Charging curve (rapid chargers)
DC rapid chargers (50 kW and above) cannot maintain full power above approximately 80% state of charge. The battery management system reduces power to protect cell health. This calculator accounts for this by splitting the charge into two phases:
- Below 80%: Full rated charger power
- Above 80%: Reduced to ~35% of rated power
Charging efficiency
Not all energy from the grid reaches the battery. AC chargers (3-pin, 7 kW, 22 kW) have approximately 90% efficiency — 10% is lost as heat in the onboard charger and cables. DC chargers are slightly more efficient at ~95%. The calculator applies these losses to both the charging time and the cost, because your meter records the energy drawn from the grid (the higher figure), not the energy delivered to the battery.
Charger types
- 3-pin plug: 2.3 kW (10A) — emergency/occasional use only
- 7 kW home charger: Single-phase AC — the UK standard for home charging
- 22 kW: Three-phase AC — workplaces and destination chargers
- 50 kW rapid: DC CCS/CHAdeMO — motorway services, public hubs
- 150 kW ultra-rapid: DC CCS — newest public rapid chargers
Cost calculation
Cost = Grid energy drawn × Electricity rate, where grid energy = energy delivered to the battery ÷ charging efficiency. Home charging at the Ofgem cap costs 26.11p/kWh (1 Jul–30 Sep 2026); off-peak EV tariffs can reduce this to 7–10p/kWh. The Ofgem cap is reset every quarter, so confirm the current rate before relying on a figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Using a dedicated 7 kW home charger (the most common UK installation), charging a typical 60 kWh EV from 20% to 80% takes approximately 5-6 hours. This is ideal for overnight charging — plug in when you get home, and it's ready in the morning. Using a 3-pin plug (2.3 kW 'granny charger'), the same charge takes 15-18 hours and is only recommended for occasional or emergency use.
Rapid and ultra-rapid DC chargers deliver high power up to about 80% state of charge (SoC). Above 80%, the battery management system (BMS) reduces charging power to protect the battery cells from overheating and degradation. Charging from 80% to 100% can take almost as long as 20% to 80%. This is why most EV drivers charge to 80% for daily use and only charge to 100% for long trips.
Adding 36 kWh to the battery (a 60 kWh car from 20% to 80%) draws about 40 kWh from the grid once you allow for ~10% AC charging losses — that is what your meter records and bills. At the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh (1 Jul–30 Sep 2026) that costs around £10.44. On an off-peak EV tariff such as Octopus Intelligent at ~7p/kWh the same charge is about £2.80. Public rapid chargers at 60–80p/kWh make it roughly £24–£30. Home charging on an off-peak tariff is by far the cheapest option. The Ofgem cap changes every quarter, so check the current rate.
A dedicated 7 kW charger is strongly recommended for regular EV use. It charges 3× faster than a 3-pin plug, is safer for sustained high-current charging, and works with smart off-peak tariffs. The EV chargepoint grant covers 75% of the socket and installation cost, up to £500 per socket (raised from £350 on 1 April 2026), for renters, flat owners and leaseholders, and residential landlords — but homeowners living in standard houses with their own driveway are not eligible. Funding is confirmed until 31 March 2027. A 3-pin plug should only be used for emergency or very occasional charging — sustained use can overload household wiring.
AC charging (3-pin, 7 kW, 22 kW) sends alternating current to the car's onboard charger, which converts it to DC for the battery. It's slower but cheaper to install. DC charging (50 kW, 150 kW, 350 kW) bypasses the onboard charger and feeds DC directly to the battery via CCS connector, allowing much faster charging. Most home chargers are AC; most public rapid chargers are DC.
Yes, and it's increasingly popular in the UK. A 4 kWp solar system generates enough energy on a sunny day to add 50-80 miles of range. Smart EV chargers like myenergi zappi can be set to only charge when solar surplus is available, effectively giving you free fuel. Combined with a home battery, you can store daytime solar and charge your EV overnight. Use our Solar Battery Storage Calculator for sizing.
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Last updated: June 2026
Verified against UK standards · estimates only, confirm with your supplier.