Depending on your charger type, fully charging your EV could take anywhere from 4 to 50 hours. A variety of factors could make your charger run slower than usual, forcing you to reschedule your plans. While some issues are unavoidable, others require professional assistance to get your charger back up to speed.
1. Cold Temperatures
Just like a gas vehicle often struggles to start in the winter, EV cars have trouble charging when the temperature drops. Your battery tolerates less power and suffers from energy loss, resulting in a surprise percentage drop when you start the car in the morning. Try heating your vehicle before charging to warm up the battery.
2. Battery State of Charge
Your battery state of charge refers to the current battery percentage. Your vehicle charges quickly until it hits 80%, then slows down significantly as it approaches 100%. In fact, some manufacturers recommend stopping at 80% because charging after that can reduce battery life.
You can reach 100% if you’re taking a long drive, but 80% is enough for everyday trips. Chargers slow down at this point to keep the battery from overheating. If you’re still worried about running out of fuel, try mapping out all the public charging stations on your route before you leave.
3. Vehicle Usage
Sitting in your vehicle to listen to the radio or enjoy the AC might sound harmless, but it actually forces the charger to work harder to fuel your car, slowing the charging times. Make sure you turn off your vehicle and avoid using any features until it’s fully charged.
4. Battery Condition
EV batteries last about 10 to 15 years. After that, they start to gradually lose their capacity. The charger slows down to accommodate this, resulting in longer fueling times. If you’re operating a car with an old battery, consider getting a replacement so that you can drive at full capacity again.
5. Charger Type
Level 1 chargers take about 40 to 50 hours to fully charge your vehicle. If this is too slow, you could upgrade to a Level 2 charger, which takes about 4 to 10 hours. Level 2 chargers are more expensive, but they’ll help you get the most out of your vehicle.
In the meantime, you could visit a local charging station to take advantage of their Level 3 chargers. They take about 30 minutes to fuel your vehicle. These chargers are the most expensive to install in your house and require a 240-volt outlet.
If you’ve tried different tactics and your charger still runs slowly, call Rush Electric to discuss their EV charger services in Memphis, TN.
