[The Champ]

Originally Posted by GTO JONES

If you pull up to a charging station with an electric car how long does it take to get a full charge and what does it cost?

First of all, they don't recommend getting a 'full charge'. It's harder on the battery.

They also don't recommend using high speed chargers as it degrades the battery over time.

Second, the length of time depends on:

a. the size of the battery
b. maximum charging rate of the vehicle
c. maximum charging rate of the charger
d. the outside temps when you are attempting to charge

Bottom line, once you find a charger, it can be anywhere from 30 minutes to half a day.

From Kia, an EV manufacturer:

' Minimize exposure to extremely high temperatures when parked

Exposure to the extreme heat while parking unplugged is when the frequent danger occurs. An automated temperature control system installed in your electric car will needlessly drain your batteries to keep the temperatures down for optimal efficiency. While this performance should only work when your electric vehicle is on the road using its battery, park your electric car in the shade or plug-in so that its thermal management system functions only using grid power, and make sure a stable range of temperatures during operation either.'

'Even though a full charge will give you the maximum operating time, it is never a good idea for the overall lifespan of your battery.'
Weather: It tends to take longer to charge at a lower temperature, particularly when using a rapid charger. Also, your car is less efficient at a lower temperature; so you cannot add much to the travel distance per time charging.'

'Avoid using fast charging

If your batteries are soon-to-be die out, using a fast-charging is a great convenience. However, it presses so much current into the batteries in a short period which strains your EV battery and wanes them faster. While it is hard to notice its degradation, eight years of standard charging will give you 10% more battery life compared to 8 years of using fast charging.'

'Fully charging a car can be done in just 30 minutes, or it may take as long as half a day. How big your battery is, or how fast your charging point is may change the time required.'