How long can you drive an electric car before charging

Q: What happens if an electric car runs out of charge?

If youre driving an electric car and it runs out of power, the short and simple answer is this: the car will stop—and youll need to call roadside assistance to get towed to the nearest charging station.

Table of Contents Show

Factors That Impact EV Charging Time
Other Factors That Impact Electric Car Charging Time:
Your Power Source for Charging
Your Car’s Charging Capacity
What To Know About Rapid Charging
Top-Up Charging
Here’s How Long It Takes To Charge an Electric Car
What happens if an electric car runs out of charge?
How long can you drive an electric car before it needs charging?
Do electric cars charge while driving?
Are electric cars good for long distance driving?

Many new electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge using a Level 2 outlet
Electric car battery performance constantly improves and evolves
When buying an EV, consider its charging capacity
Charging depends on the maximum rate of the station you use
EV batteries work best when not running below 20% or above 80%

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular with drivers who desire their eco-friendliness and cutting-edge design. These days, they’re turning to them because they want to save money as they steer clear of gas stations.

They are also becoming cheaper to own and easier to maintain thanks to a proliferation of charging stations at shopping centers, office buildings, and other public places. Also, the federal government offers up to $7,500 in tax incentives for buying select new or used electric cars.

However, charging these cutting-edge automobiles may hinder their popularity due to a lack of charging stations in certain areas and slow charging times in many cases. Even extreme weather conditions like below-zero temperatures can wreak havoc on drivers’ ability to charge their vehicles.

What can drivers do to maximize how much time they can drive on a single charge? Let’s start with some factors that can affect how much time they spend charging their EVs in the first place.

RELATED: An EV Charger Buying Guide: See All Your Options

Factors That Impact EV Charging Time

Charging times can vary due to several factors. What is your power source? How much power can your electric car handle? How can drivers charge their vehicles and get back on the road more quickly? Depending on an electric vehicle’s charging source and battery capacity, some drivers can charge their cars to 80% in as little as 30 minutes using a Level 3 fast charger (more on that in a bit).

Unfortunately, that isn’t the standard. Most drivers will need at least a full day to charge a fully depleted electric car battery if they use the standard three-prong plugs found in the walls of most homes.

Other Factors That Impact Electric Car Charging Time:

Your battery’s size: Level 1 outlets (like those you use at home) charge car batteries at the slowest rate. If your vehicle offers more battery capacity (measured in kWh), you’ll need more time to charge your car battery fully.
Your vehicle’s maximum charging rate: How much of a charge can your vehicle accept at once? Your vehicle’s maximum charge rate is static, so you won’t save time by charging your battery at a more powerful charging station.
The power of your charging station: Your charging time also depends on the maximum charging rate of the charging station you are using. Even if your car can charge at a higher rate, it will only charge at your charging station’s maximum power rate, which can adversely affect charging time.
The weather in your area: Lower temperatures can affect vehicle efficiency and lengthen charging times, especially when using rapid chargers. Conversely, hot weather can also affect your electric car’s thermal management systems, affecting its efficiency. Hot conditions can also test an electric vehicle’s internal resistance, rising as battery charges increase.
Is your battery empty or full?: Drivers rarely charge their vehicles from an empty battery. They usually “top up” their batteries instead to lengthen the time they can drive on a single charge, which generally saves drivers significant charging time. According to automotive expert Matt DeLorenzo, if you need to charge your car when it’s below 20% of charge or above 80%, it’s like a balloon. “When you blow up a balloon, getting the first few puffs of air into it is hard … the same goes for when it’s almost full,” said DeLorenzo, the author of “How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership.” He added, “It’s the same thing with an EV. It takes more energy to push the current into the battery and the charge time slows down.”

Your Power Source for Charging

Start with your home power source to get a sense of how long it will take to charge your car. A Level 1 power outlet charges at the least amount of power, while Level 2 chargers can plug into outlets like the ones dryers use and charge at twice the power.

Unlike Level 1 chargers, however, you’ll need an electrician and a compatible circuit to install a Level 2 charger at home. (A quick way to calculate the power you can generate is to multiply your voltage and the number of amps you plan to use.) Companies like California-based startup Splitvolt have also developed splitters that let EV drivers use a standard household garage outlet without unique installations.

Level 3 chargers (also called direct current fast chargers or DCFCs) use a high-voltage direct current that goes straight to the car’s battery. However, these chargers aren’t compatible with every electric vehicle.

Also, they are both expensive and hard to find beyond public spaces like malls and parking garages. Automakers like Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Tesla offer Level 3 charging systems for their vehicles.

At the same time, third-party manufacturers like Electrify America and SparkCharge have also produced DCFCs for cars that can use them. Beyond that, many drivers who can’t use DCFCs opt for the combined charging system (CCS). CCS supercharges its power sources by conjoining Level 1 and Level 2 chargers.

RELATED: How EV Charging Could Become Easier in the Future

Your Car’s Charging Capacity

You should also consider your car’s charging capacity when figuring out how long it will take you to charge it. For calculations, get the optimal charging time for your electric vehicle by dividing the battery capacity (measured in kWh) by the power rating of your car’s onboard charger, then adding 10% to the loss of power associated with charging it.

For example, a 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range has an 11.5-kW charger and a 75-kWh battery pack, which would take roughly 6.5 hours to charge fully using a Level 2 charger.

The Tesla Supercharger can charge at 250 kW, which would lower that charging time to approximately 15 to 25 minutes.

TIP: Remember, EV battery technology constantly improves and evolves. Ask lots of questions about the battery and estimated charging times when purchasing a new or used electric car.

What To Know About Rapid Charging

Rapid, or fast charging seems easy and convenient. But that speed comes with a caveat. Even the fastest charging time can decrease significantly when the battery falls under 20% or above 80% complete.

This keeps the battery from overcharging and keeps it in optimum condition. Many manufacturers gauge charging times by how long DCFCs can get your battery charged to 80%.

Rapid charging is also becoming easier to access thanks to plans from Electrify America and others continuing the push to build out the nation’s charging infrastructure.

RELATED: How EV Charging Could Become Easier in the Future

Top-Up Charging

Anyone who’s ever driven a car with a standard gasoline engine has “topped up” their gas tanks or filled them way before the gas meter hits “E.” It makes sense: No one wants to run out of gas, especially on a longer road trip. But should you top up your electric car’s battery the same way? Not really.

The battery works best when it isn’t running below 20% or above 80%. Many manufacturers discourage topping up batteries in hot weather since the act of charging combined with excessive heat can adversely affect your electric car’s thermal management systems and internal resistance systems.

That can adversely affect how well your car works over time.

Here’s How Long It Takes To Charge an Electric Car

How long would it take to fully charge some of the leading electric cars on the road?

Use these charging estimates based on a Level 2 charger, according to the manufacturers’ websites for the following 2022 and 2023 cars:

2022 Porsche Taycan (Performance Plus): Up to 10 hours
2022 Tesla Model 3: Up to 8 hours
2022 Tesla Model S: Up to 12 hours
2023 Audi Q4 e-Tron: 9 hours
2023 BMW iX: under 10 hours
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV: up to 10 hours
2023 Mini SE Hardtop: Up to 5 hours
2023 Nissan Leaf: 7.5 to 11 hours
2023 Polestar 2: 8 hours

What happens if an electric car runs out of charge?

If you're driving an electric car and it runs out of power, the short and simple answer is this: the car will stop—and you'll need to call roadside assistance to get towed to the nearest charging station.

How long can you drive an electric car before it needs charging?

Most EVs get between 100 and 300 miles per charge, but some newer and higher-end vehicles on the market are starting to push the envelope on this. One example is the 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition Range, which reportedly gets up to 520 miles of range.

Do electric cars charge while driving?

Do electric cars recharge while driving? The short answer is no they do not charge while driving. Technology has advanced immensely over the years, but it's not yet in a place where electric vehicles can charge while driving.

Are electric cars good for long distance driving?

Something like the BMW i3 94ah has a 153-mile range which — if you don't mind making a few stops — can be a good bet for longer trips. Consider a long-range Tesla or a Chevrolet Bolt if you want to avoid frequent charges. These cars have well over 200 miles of electric range.