EV Charging Speed Comparison

Range added per hour by charger type

This table shows approximately how many miles of range each charger type adds per hour of charging, based on a typical EV efficiency of 26 kWh per 100 miles.

Charger type	Power	Range added per hour
Portable charger	2.3 kW	~9 mi/hr
AC wall charger	7 kW	~27 mi/hr
3-phase AC charger	22 kW	~85 mi/hr
DC fast charger	50 kW	~194 mi/hr
DC rapid charger	150 kW	~583 mi/hr
Ultra rapid charger	250 kW	~971 mi/hr

Based on a typical EV (25.7 kWh per 100 mi). Real-world speeds depend on battery temperature, state of charge and charger availability. The jump from a household socket to a wall charger changes daily life far more than the jump from fast to ultra-rapid DC.

Charging time by charger type

This table shows how long it takes to charge a 100 kWh battery from 10% to 80% at each charger power level. This 70 kWh charge window is a common real-world charging scenario, particularly for long distance travel.

Charger type	Power	Time (10% to 80%)	Range added
Portable charger	2.3 kW	~30 hr 26 min	~272 mi
AC wall charger	7 kW	~10 hr	~272 mi
3-phase AC charger	22 kW	~3 hr 11 min	~272 mi
DC fast charger	50 kW	~1 hr 24 min	~272 mi
DC rapid charger	150 kW	~28 min	~272 mi
Ultra rapid charger	250 kW	~17 min	~272 mi

Based on a typical EV (100 kWh battery, 25.7 kWh per 100 mi) charging from 10% to 80% (70 kWh), at constant power. Real DC charging is slower as the battery fills.

Charging cost by charger type

Faster chargers are more convenient but typically cost more per kWh. This table shows what the same 70 kWh charging session (10% to 80% on a 100 kWh battery) costs at each price point.

Charger type	Typical price	Cost (10% to 80%)	Cost per 100 mi
Home (own solar)	£0.06 per kWh	£4.20	£1.54
Home (EV off peak)	£0.07 per kWh	£4.90	£1.80
Home (off peak)	£0.15 per kWh	£10.50	£3.86
Home (standard rate)	£0.26 per kWh	£18.42	£6.78
Public AC	£0.49 per kWh	£34.30	£12.62
DC fast	£0.75 per kWh	£52.50	£19.31
Ultra rapid DC	£0.85 per kWh	£59.50	£21.89

Based on a typical EV (100 kWh battery, 25.7 kWh per 100 mi). Actual network pricing varies by location and provider.

AC vs DC charging

AC charging

AC (alternating current) charging uses the vehicle's onboard charger to convert AC power from the grid into DC power for the battery. This limits charging speed to whatever the vehicle's onboard charger can handle — typically 7 kW to 22 kW depending on the vehicle.

AC charging is most common at home, workplaces and destination locations such as shopping centres and hotels where vehicles are parked for several hours.

DC charging

DC (direct current) fast charging bypasses the vehicle's onboard charger and delivers power directly to the battery through a more powerful external charger. This allows much higher charging speeds, from 50 kW up to 350 kW at some sites.

DC charging is used at public fast charging stations, typically along highways and in urban hubs where drivers need to add range quickly. Most EVs charge fastest between roughly 10% and 80% battery level, after which the charging speed reduces to protect the battery.

Which is better?

Neither is inherently better, they serve different purposes. AC charging is cheaper and ideal for overnight home charging or long stops. DC charging is faster and more convenient for road trips and quick top-ups. Most EV owners use a combination of both.

What affects real-world charging speed

The figures in the tables above assume constant power delivery at the charger's rated speed. In practice, several factors affect how fast an EV actually charges.

Vehicle charging limit

Every EV has a maximum charging rate set by the vehicle. Plugging into a 250 kW ultra rapid charger does not guarantee 250 kW if the vehicle can only accept 150 kW. The charging speed is always limited to whichever is lower — the charger or the vehicle.

Battery state of charge

EV batteries charge fastest when they are at a lower or mid state of charge and slow down as they approach full. This is why charging from 10% to 80% is much faster than charging from 80% to 100%. The slowdown protects the battery from excess heat and stress.

Temperature

Cold weather can significantly reduce charging speed, particularly for DC fast charging. Many modern EVs use battery preconditioning to warm the battery before a fast charging session, which helps restore normal charging speeds.

Charger availability

Some charger sites share power between multiple stalls. If several vehicles are charging at once, each may receive less than the charger's maximum rated power.

Frequently asked questions

Why do EVs charge faster at lower battery levels?

Charging speed is partly limited by how much energy the battery can safely accept at a given state of charge. When the battery is lower it can accept energy more quickly. As it approaches full, the charging system gradually reduces power to control heat and protect the battery. This behaviour is known as the EV charging curve.