There is no single charging time for every electric car. It depends on the charger, the car, the battery level and how much energy you actually need to add.
If you only have a short stop, rapid charging can be useful. If the car is already going to sit near home for several hours, a lower-powered charger can do a completely different job.
That is really the point of this guide: EV charging speeds make more sense when you match them to the time you actually have.
What affects EV charging time?
A few things make the biggest difference.
The charger
Charge point power is measured in kilowatts, or kW. The higher the available power, the faster energy can potentially be delivered to the car.
The car
Every EV has a maximum charging rate it can accept. Plugging into a more powerful charger does not automatically mean the car will use all of that power.
The battery
How full the battery already is, and how much energy you want to add, also changes the answer.
If you want the slightly nerdier version, our Help Centre has a simple explanation of what kWh means.
What counts as standard, rapid or ultra-rapid charging?
The Department for Transport currently groups UK public charge points like this:
You do not need to memorise the table. The useful bit is knowing that different charging speeds suit different situations.
When rapid charging makes sense
Say you are halfway through a longer journey and only stopping for a coffee. You want to add useful charge and get moving again.
That is exactly where rapid or ultra-rapid charging earns its keep. The time available is short, so speed matters.
When near-home charging makes sense
Now take a normal evening. You park on the street near home and do not need the car again until the morning.
The car could be sitting there for hours, so the question changes. You may not need the highest possible charging speed. You need enough energy added while the car is already parked.
That is where near-home charging can be useful.
Current char.gy charge points operate at approximately 5kW to 22kW, depending on the charger and location. Actual charging time still depends on the vehicle, battery level and power available at that point.
You can see current char.gy charging speeds in our Help Centre.
For someone without a driveway, the routine can be pretty simple: park near home, connect, get on with the evening, then come back when you need the car again.
Near-home charging is not trying to beat rapid charging at its own game. It is useful because the car already has time on its side.
Which charging speed suits the situation?
How long will the car be parked?
A short stop puts more value on speed. A few hours parked gives the charger more time to work.
How much charge do you actually need?
Your normal weekday drive and a longer road trip are not the same job. Think about what the car needs to do next.
What can your car accept?
Your vehicle specs will tell you its maximum AC and DC charging rates.
Where is the charger?
Location matters too. A charger near home, work or somewhere you were already going may fit your day better than a faster charger that needs a separate stop.
You can check char.gy charging near you to see what is available in your area.
What will it cost?
Public charging prices vary, so it is worth checking the current price before you start.
You can find current char.gy pricing online.
Three charging moments, three different needs
A short stop on a long journey
What matters: adding useful charge quickly. Likely fit: rapid or ultra-rapid charging.
A few hours at a destination
What matters: how much energy can be added while you are already there. Likely fit: the charger that suits your car, parked time and next journey.
Parked new home for the evening or overnight
What matters: having charging close to where the car is already parked, with time available before you need it again. Likely fit: near-home charging.
None of these options replaces the others. They are solving different problems.
Match the charger to the way you drive
How long it takes to charge an electric car is not just about finding the biggest number on a charger.
Sometimes you need speed. Sometimes you have time on your side.
If your car is already going to be parked for several hours, it is worth seeing what near-home charging is available where you live.