Charging an electric van will take between 2 and 12 hours depending on the power output of your charge point and the capacity of your battery module in kWh. A 7kW home charger will charge a 79kWh Fiat E-Ducato battery module from empty to full in under 12 hours. A public 40kWh charge point will charge the same module from empty to full in under 2 hours.
Here are some examples of how long it takes to charge the most popular electric vans in the UK today.
| Charge Time @ 7kW | Charge Time @ 15kW | Charge Time @ 30kW | Charge Time @ 50kW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat E-Ducato (79kWh) | 12 Hours | 6 Hours | 3 Hours | 1.5 Hours |
| Ford E-Transit (67kWh) | 10 Hours | 5 Hours | 2.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours |
| Iveco Daily Electric (56kWh) | 8 Hours | 4 Hours | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours |
| Renault Master ZE (33kWh) | 5 Hours | 2.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours | 1 Hour |
| LDV EV80 (56kWh) | 8 Hours | 4 Hours | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours |
All charge times have been round up to the nearest half hour for simplicity.
Working Out How Long It Will Take To Fully Charge An Electric Van
You can work out how long it will take to charge any electric van using the following equation.
Battery Capacity in kWh / Charger Output in kW = Hours To Fully Charge.
Put simply, if the battery module in your electric van has a power capacity of 60kWh and the charge point you’re using has a power output of 30kW then 60kWh / 30kW = 2 hours.
Charge Speed Vs Charge Rate
You may have access to a charge point capable of delivering 22kW for a fast charge or 50kW for a rapid charge, but if your electric van has a maximum rate that it’s capable of being charged at then this will extend the time it takes to fill your battery to capacity.
The LDV EV80 for example has a maximum charge rate of 30kW. This means that despite being connected to a rapid 50kW charger, you would still only benefit from a 30kW charge speed – the maximum charge rate for that particular vehicle.
Confirmed by WhatCar, the Ford E-Transit by comparison has a max charge rate of 115kW and can be fully charged from a typical home charge point in around 8 hours. Connected to a 30kW charge point, this electric van will fully charge from empty in just over 2 hours.
Topping Up For Faster Charge Times
It takes between 2 and 12 hours to fully charge an electric van from empty depending on the size of your battery and the power output of the charger you’re connected to. This is why most people prefer to top up rather than wait until their battery is almost depleted.
Being faster and more convenient to top up with a quick charge, topping up rather than requiring a complete charge cycle can bring charge times down drastically from hours into minutes.
Here’s what we mean.
Range (In Miles) Added To Battery Per 30 Minutes Of Charging
| 3kW (Slow Charger) | 7kW (Fast Charger) | 50kW (Rapid Charger) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mins | 5 | 12 | 90 |
| 60 mins | 10 | 24 | 180 |
| 90 mins | 15 | 48 | 360 (theoretical range) |
- Charging times are restricted to the maximum charge rate of your van.
- Rapid chargers (fastest) will fully charge your van in as little as 30 minutes.
- Home chargers (slowest) are typically around 7kW and are best for topping up or overnight charging.
Variables In How Long It Will Take To Charge An Electric Van
Charge speeds are subject to the various conditions in which your vehicle operates and will have an overall affect on how long it will take to charge your electric van. These are.
- Battery Capacity: The bigger your battery module then the longer it will take to fully charge. From a 30kW charge point, a Renault Master ZE 33kWh battery would take just over an hour to fully charge whereas a Ford E-Transit 67kWh battery would take just over 2 hours.
- Battery State (full charge or top up): It will take less time to top up a battery from 75% than it will to fully charge a battery module from empty. For faster, more efficient charge times, always top up when you can.
- Winter Charge Times: The cooler the ambient temperature, the higher the internal resistance of any type of battery. This makes charge times longer so you should opt for topping up as opposed to fully charging in cold weather. Also, lithium-ion batteries cannot be charged at temperatures lower than 0°C (32°F).
- Vehicle Max Charge Rate: This will determine how long it will take to charge your electric van, even if you’re connected to a rapid charger. If your vehicle has a a max charge rate of 25kW, connecting to a 50kW charge point will feed your battery module at 25kW – the max charge rate your van will accept.
- Charge Points Max Charge Rate: This is also a determining factor in how long it will take you to charge your EV. For example, if your van has a max charge rate of 35 kW but you’re connected to a charge point with a max charge rate of only 7kW, then 7kW is the max rate you will be able to charge your van.
Points Of Note:
- Electric vehicles will take longer to charge and are less efficient in colder climates.
- You cannot charge lithium-ion batteries if your battery module is below 0°C (32°F). You will need to heat your battery before attempting to charge, adding to your overall charge time.
- Topping up is always faster and more time efficient than charging from empty. Your van can be fully charged in as little as 10 minutes.