How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

There are a few different options when it comes to charging your electric vehicle, as each vehicle around Corona has different types of plugs and ports, however, there are charging adapters so you can charge up almost anywhere. So, how long does it take to charge an electric car? 

Depending on which type of EV you drive, you’ll have different battery packs and charging times. Therefore, there are two many different types of charging systems to have one universal charge. However, there are three main types of EV charging, domestic charging, rapid domestic charging, and public charging. Which one you choose determines the amount of time it takes to charge your vehicle. If you have any other questions about electric car charging time, feel free to contact us anytime!

Options For Electric Car Charging

1. Domestic Outlet Home Charging (Regular Outlet): Domestic charging is the standard three-prong 110V/120V outlet, which is also considered level 1 charging. Charging speed is extremely slow for this option, however, it’s always good to be able to charge your EV right in your Fontana garage. If you use Level 1 charging, it will likely take a full 24 hours or more to fully charge.
2. Installed Brand-Approved Domestic Charging: The next is Level 2 Charging, which uses 240V+ chargers, and is often developed specifically for your Kia vehicle. How long does it take to charge an electric car with this setup? With this method, you can expect to receive a full charge in just hours or even less, as some vehicles can get up to an 80% charge in just 45 minutes. There is a diminishing rate of charging speed, however, and the last 20% will likely take a bit longer. 
3. Public Charging: There are many public charging options around Riverside in malls, hotels, and parking garages. You can also find charging stations at popular stores such as Kohls or Walgreens, and more are added daily due to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Public charging stations vary significantly in terms of speed and type, however, for a quick charge, you can often expect Level 2 Charging speed.

Common Domestic Electric Car Charging Time

Let’s go over some of the common domestic electric car charging time, and how they differ depending on whether you choose Level 1 or Level 2 charging:

• Level 1 EV charging takes up to 24 hours or more to completely charge. 
• Level 2 EV charging takes just a few hours to charge fully. Often, in just 20-30 minutes, you can get 60-200 miles of range with a Level 2 DC charger. A common strategy to decrease electric car charging time is to mix daytime charging on Level 2, and overnight on Level 1. 

These charging times are the norm on Kia electric vehicles, however, if you drive a plug-in hybrid, you will experience even less charging time. This is because plug-in hybrids are powered with both electric and gasoline engines. For these Kia electric vehicles, you will only be able to experience short bursts of electric power at certain speeds.

Public Charging Electric Car Charging Time

If you charge your vehicle at home, you will often have 3.7 kW or 7 kW charging. However, if you use a public charging station, you can expect anywhere between 22 kW, 43-50 kw, and 150 kW rapid charging. Depending on which Kia electric vehicle you ultimately choose, you can get a full charge in around an hour. However, some take around 4, 6, or even 11 hours to charge. 

Buy Your Electric Vehicle at Riverside Kia!

Now that you know more about electric car charging time, come see the impressive inventory of new vehicles at Riverside Kia! We have a wide range of Kia electric vehicles and standard combustion powered cars, so you’re sure to find something that suits you. Be sure to meet with our finance center and take advantage of our new vehicle specials to save near San Bernardino!