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6 reasons why your electric car isn't charging as fast as you'd expect
**Electric Car Charging Times: What's the Holdup?**
Charging times for electric cars are not always as straightforward as they seem. The actual power output of a charging station often doesn’t match the maximum as advertised. While this can be frustrating, there are several reasons why your EV might take longer to charge than expected.
So, why is this the case?
Well, actual electric car charging times depend on a variety of factors that can be influenced by your car, the charging station, your driving behavior, and even the weather conditions. In short, these six factors are most common to affect charging time:
1. **Maximum charging capacity vs. maximum power output**
2. **State of charge**
3. **Charging simultaneously**
4. **Battery temperature**
5. **Sitting in your car while charging**
6. **Battery health**
EV adoption has grown rapidly in recent years, with more and more drivers switching to electric vehicles. However, despite this growth, many drivers still have concerns about batteries and charging. According to research from Ipsos, 43% of EV drivers are particularly concerned about charging times and battery range.
One of the most common questions is how long it takes to charge an EV and why the speed isn’t always what’s advertised at the charging station. In this article, we’ll explore the six most common factors that affect charging times and explain exactly how and why they matter.
### 1. Maximum Charging Capacity vs. Maximum Power Output
The most common reason your EV isn't charging as fast as you expect is due to limitations in either your car's charging capacity or the power output of the charger. This means your car may not be able to handle the maximum load a charging station can provide, or the charger itself may not deliver the same power your vehicle can accept.
This mismatch is especially noticeable with fast charging, where the difference between what the charger offers and what your car can take becomes more apparent.
#### Understanding kW and kWh
Before diving deeper, it's important to understand the difference between kilowatts (kW) and kilowatt-hours (kWh). kW measures the rate at which energy is consumed, while kWh represents the total amount of energy stored in a battery.
For example, a home charging station typically provides 7, 11, or 22 kW, while public fast chargers can go up to 400 kW. However, your car's battery will only accept as much as it can handle, so even if a charger is capable of higher power, your car might not charge any faster.
Let’s take a concrete example: the Hyundai IONIQ 5 Long Range AWD has a 77.4 kWh battery and a maximum AC charging input of 11 kW. Even if you connect it to a 22 kW charger, it won’t charge any faster because the car can only take 11 kW at a time.
Similarly, with DC fast charging, even if a charger delivers 350 kW, your car might only be able to take 233 kW, resulting in the same charging time.
### 2. Battery State of Charge
Another key factor affecting charging time is the state of charge (SoC), or how much energy your battery currently holds. Unlike gas-powered vehicles, EVs don’t charge at the same rate throughout the entire process. They tend to charge faster when the battery is lower and slower as it approaches full.
This is because lithium-ion batteries are designed to slow down as they near 100% to prevent overheating and extend their lifespan. Most manufacturers also recommend not regularly charging above 80%, so you likely won’t experience this slowdown during everyday use.
### 3. Charging Simultaneously
If multiple EVs are connected to the same charging station or share the same power source, the charging speed for each vehicle may decrease. This is especially true for fast chargers, where two units might share a transformer, effectively halving the maximum power output when both are in use.
To avoid this, it’s best to choose a station with fewer or no other vehicles connected to ensure you get the fastest possible charge.
### 4. Battery Temperature
External temperatures can also impact charging times. EV batteries perform best around 20°C, and extreme heat or cold can slow down the charging process. In cold weather, the battery may need to be heated before it can accept a full charge, which takes extra time. In hot weather, the battery management system may slow down the charge to prevent overheating.
### 5. Sitting in Your Car While It Charges
Using your car while it’s charging can also add to the charging time. If you’re using the heating, air conditioning, lights, or entertainment system, some of the energy being delivered to the battery will be diverted to power those features, slowing down the overall charging process.
### 6. Battery Health
Over time, EV batteries do lose some of their capacity, which can lead to slower charging times. However, modern EVs are designed with extra capacity to offset this aging effect. As a result, most drivers won’t notice a significant change in charging speed over the life of their vehicle.
While battery life and charging time are important considerations for EV owners, there are many other questions surrounding electric mobility. For example, how does home charging work? How can you charge on the go? What type of cable should you use?
You can find answers to these and many more questions in our complete EV charging guide, which provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of electric vehicle charging.