The U.S. DOT estimates 40–50 hours on Level 1 AC (alternating current), 4–10 hours on Level 2 AC, or 20 minutes to 1 hour on DC (direct current) fast charging for a light-duty battery-electric vehicle (BEV) with a 60-kWh battery, from empty to 80%. The DOT estimate ends at 80%, so it does not give a 20–80% DC-stop time or a full 0–100% home-charge time; actual duration varies with the vehicle, starting charge and conditions.
How long does each charging level take?
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) comparison assumes a light-duty BEV with a 60-kWh battery and measures charging from empty to 80%.[1] A 20–80% road-trip DC stop uses a different window from this empty-to-80% estimate; the benchmark also does not give a full 0–100% home-charge time.
| Charging level | Current type | DOT estimate, empty to 80%[1:1] |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | AC | 40–50 hours |
| Level 2 | AC | 4–10 hours |
| DC fast charging | DC | 20 minutes to 1 hour |
How much range does each charging level add?
The U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) reports miles of range added, not a fixed battery-percentage window, so these figures are different from the DOT charge-time benchmark.[2]
| Charging level | Typical range added in AFDC consumer guidance |
|---|---|
| Level 1 AC | 2–5 miles per hour |
| Level 2 AC | 10–30 miles per hour |
| DC fast charging | 100–200+ miles in 30 minutes |
Use the AFDC numbers as range-added guidance; they do not convert into a universal time to reach a given battery percentage.
How long does a 240-V home charge take?
The EPA record lists 9.5 h for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV AWD with an 11-kW charger.[3] FuelEconomy.gov defines “Time to Charge Battery” as the time to charge a fully empty battery using 240-V service; 120-V service takes longer, but the guide gives no 120-V duration for this vehicle.[4] For driving-distance context, see the Chevrolet Equinox EV range answer.
What changes an electric car's charge time?
Charging time depends on how full the battery is at the start, its capacity and type, the vehicle's onboard charger, charger output, and electrical service.[5]
A station's rated kW is its output; it does not tell you how much power your car accepts throughout the session.[5:1][6] On AC, the vehicle's onboard charger can limit the rate; on DC, the car's charging curve—the power it accepts as the battery fills—can slow charging near full.[6:1] Compare model-specific windows on SuliHuli's 10–80% charging leaderboard; its figures are a site-owned comparison, not a prediction from a station's peak kW.
Air temperature also affects charging speed, along with battery capacity and vehicle age and condition, according to the U.S. DOT.[1:2] Use vehicle-specific charging information for the conditions you expect rather than adding a fixed temperature adjustment. For winter driving-range context, see SuliHuli's cold-weather guide.
U.S. Department of Transportation, “Charger Types and Speeds” (last updated January 31, 2025; read 2026-11-09). DOT charging-speed benchmark ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, “Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electric Vehicles for Consumers” (read 2026-11-09). AFDC consumer charging estimates ↩︎
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, FuelEconomy.gov, “2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger)” (read 2026-11-09). EPA vehicle record ↩︎
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, FuelEconomy.gov, “Learn More About the Fuel Economy Label for Electric Vehicles” (read 2026-11-09). EPA label charge-time definition ↩︎
U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, “Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations” (read 2026-11-09). AFDC charging-level guide ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Energy, “EVGrid Assist Webinar Highlights: Fast Charging for Light-, Medium-, and Heavy-Duty Vehicles” (read 2026-11-09). DOE charging-profile explanation ↩︎ ↩︎