Charging Time Calculator
When determining the optimal charging duration for your electric vehicle, it's important to consider many factors that impact the charging process. Our featured calculator simplifies this complex task by assuming a consistent charging rate. However in the real world, charging dynamics can change dramatically depending on the situation, with the charging time being notably influenced by the speed of the charging process.
Charging between the initial 0% to 80% state of charge (SOC) is faster than the subsequent 80% to 100% SOC range. During the earlier part, the charging process accelerates, while later, it decelerates. It takes longer to charge the last 20% due to preserving battery health and depending on which battery chemistry you're using these numbers may differ.
In addition to the variations in charging speed based on SOC ranges, it's essential to acknowledge the significant influence of battery chemistry on the overall charging process. Different electric vehicles utilize diverse battery chemistries, such as lithium-ion or lithium phosphate or solid-state batteries, or less common now lead acid batteries each exhibiting unique characteristics. These distinctions contribute to fluctuations in charging speeds, presenting users with varied experiences. When trying to figure out how fast your battery pack will charge in your conversion it's important to keep which chemistry you have in mind.
It's important to note that the electric vehicle charging process is not only influenced by the battery and its chemistry but also by the charging infrastructure. The charging speed is contingent on both the charging station and the charger integrated into the vehicle. It's crucial to understand that the charging speed will only be as fast as the lowest power rating between these two components. A high-capacity charging station paired with a vehicle equipped with a powerful onboard charger can significantly reduce charging times. Conversely, if the station or the vehicle's charger has a lower power rating, it becomes the bottleneck, limiting the overall charging speed. It is important to keep that in mind when choosing the right charger for your EV or a charging station at your home.
For electric vehicle charging, ambient temperature emerges as a critical factor influencing charging speeds. Temperature variations can significantly affect the efficiency of the charging process. In colder climates, charging times may extend as low temperatures can impede the performance of the battery and slow down the charging rate. This may also happen in extreme heat environments. This is why you may see your charger start to slow down. This is often due to the rapid heating of the charging components, causing a reduction in charging speed to prevent overheating. It’s important to try to keep your batteries and chargers in the appropriate range that is specified by the manufacturer. By doing this you'll see better results during charging. Also in advance builds the BMS can tell the charger to slow down if the battery is starting to heat up. But in any build, it's important to set up the BMS properly to shut down charging if the battery is not charging properly. Implementing effective cooling mechanisms for both the battery pack and charging components becomes crucial when building electric vehicle conversions. This proactive approach ensures better temperature control, mitigates the risk of performance degradation, and optimizes the overall efficiency of the electric vehicle, especially when charging and normal operations.