Setting time aside for charging
Unless you’re a long-haul truck driver, fuelling a combustion car takes about the same amount of time regardless of how empty you’re running. ICE vehicles’ problem is finding service stations and paying for fuel at regular intervals.
Electric vehicles, however, can theoretically charge anywhere there’s an outlet. Depending on the outlet, they might not even have to pay for it — the reason they don’t is time.
The duration of a charging session is just as important as the type of charging station used. This page will outline the approximate time you should set aside for charging in different common scenarios. For more on how fast particular EVs and charging stations can charge, check out the linked page below.
How long do I need to charge at home?
Australians drive an average of 35 km every day. Whether you subtract a little for slow days or double it for big ones, an overnight charge will be more than enough to leave at 100% charge in the morning.
Home charging with a portable cable
If using a portable charging cable plugged into a regular 240V AC outlet, you can expect to receive about 10 km of range per hour of charge. For a 35 km daily drive, you’ll need about 3 and a half hours.
Recharging more than that, especially after long trips, may take longer than an entire night with a portable cable. For this reason, JET Charge recommends having an AC charging station installed for home charging.
Portable Cables
Home charging with an AC charging station
Most home charging stations deliver between 3.6 and 7.2 kW of AC power. At 7 kW, a home charging station will deliver about 30 km of range per hour of charge. For an average commute, this means less than an hour and a half of charging is needed each day.
Even after long trips, an AC home charging station can fully recharge most EVs overnight.
5 hours for 150 kms of charge;
10 hours for 300 kms of charge.
Chargers for sale
How long do I need to charge in public?
Long drives away from home are supported by public charging stations. These range from AC stations equivalent to a home charger to powerful DC stations.
Public charging for work, shopping, and day-to-day travel
Public chargers are often registered on a software network. For example, the Chargefox network of public chargers are accessible through a smartphone app or using RFID cards.
Networks like these make it easy to find chargers and pay for your charging time. Generally speaking, no public charger will be rated for less than a Level 2 AC station (~7 kW). This means you can expect at least 30 km of range added per hour of charge.
It is considered impolite to leave a fully charged EV in a charging bay for extended periods. Please use public bays only when you intend to plug in and charge with them.
more than that, especially after long trips, may take longer than an entire night with a portable cable. For this reason, JET Charge recommends having an AC charging station installed for home charging.
Public charging for long journeys
Before taking a long trip in an EV it is best to plan a route with public chargers at necessary intervals. For best charging efficiency and peace of mind, leave about 20% of your battery capacity between stops.
Charging times at public stations, especially high-powered DC stations, will vary between vehicles. The following charge-times are listed for a ‘typical’ Australian EV, the Hyundai Kona Electric.
- 7.2 kW AC charging: ~30 km per hour of charge
- 50 kW DC charging: 0-80% in 75 minutes*
- 100 kW DC charging: 0-80% in 54 minutes*
*Estimates calculated by Hyundai Australia
Calculate your charging time
For more information on EVs and EV charging, visit the Guide and Tools sections of our website. For a comprehensive guide to individual vehicles, check out our dedicated EV Models pages.
The following calculator can be used to estimate charging times for some of Australia’s most popular EVs.
Note: estimates are based on peak charging efficiency, real-world times may vary considerably.
