How long does it take to charge an electric van?
As businesses focus more on sustainability, electric vans are becoming the go-to vehicle of choice, and people are increasingly curious about how electric vans charge. One of the most popular questions is, “How long does it take to charge an electric van to total capacity?” With that in mind, let’s explore electric van charging and how you can optimise the charging process.
How much time does it take to charge an electric van fully?
Various factors affect how long it takes to charge an electric van, including your van’s battery capacity, charger types, and connections. Let’s break down some of the most common factors that affect van charging times.
Battery capacity
Your battery capacity is a major factor in how long it will take to charge. Using the same charging technology, a small 44kWh battery (as found in a Renault Kangoo) will charge quicker than a larger 75kWh battery (as found in a Peugeot E-Expert).
Charger type
While filling up an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV)’s fuel reservoir is relatively straightforward, a range of EV chargers are available on the market. All have different charging speeds, which include personal, business and public chargers:
- 3kW home electric socket: Allows you to charge from a home socket. These generally add about 6 miles per hour to your vehicle’s available range, though this option is largely impractical except for drivers with minimal travel needs.
- 7kW home EV charger: Requires installation but offers a convenient charging option. On average, charging a battery from empty can take up to 24 hours.
- 22kW fast public charger: Commonly found in car parks, supermarkets, and service stations. On average, charging a battery from empty with a 22kW fast public charger takes around three hours. For comparison, you can expect to add around 70 miles of range per hour of charging.
- 50kW rapid public charger: Useful for those travelling long distances. The chargers quickly charge to 80% before slowing down the rate for the last 20%. It takes around 40 minutes to charge an average-sized battery to 80%.
- 350kW ultra-rapid public charger: A rare option for drivers, 350kW ultra-rapid chargers are a newer technology but are slowly becoming more common. It would take an average of 20 minutes to charge to 80% from this charger.
There are also different charger connectors, each with its own charging rate. You will find which type you need in your van’s instruction manual:
- Type 1 (3kW to 7kw): Usually found on older EVs and those built in Asia.
- Type 2 (3kW to 43kW): The most common type of connector used in the UK.
- CHAdeMO (25kW to 100kW): Used for rapid charging and designed in Japan.
- CCS (50kW to 350kW): Another common connector first designed in Germany.
State of charge
The state of charge (SoC) represents your battery’s energy level as a percentage. It is similar to an internal combustion engine’s (ICE) fuel gauge and indicates the battery’s available energy. As you can imagine, the more energy available in the battery when starting to charge, the less time it will take to charge until full.
Temperature and environmental conditions
Electric vans have optimal charging temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. Extreme temperatures affect chemical reactions within EV batteries, and cold temperatures impact charging capabilities the most. All cars are affected by temperature changes, but electric vehicles often seem more affected because the efficiency directly impacts the vehicle’s range. Due to the chemical reactions that make a battery function, you could lose up to 15% of your van’s range during winter or in colder weather. Using the heating system will cause you to lose more efficiency, so we recommend keeping your SoC above 20% while running to ensure the battery has enough reserve to maintain optimal performance.
Electric van charging tips to optimise battery lifespan and range
Keeping your battery healthy is critical to ensuring it provides optimal performance. Here are some of our top tips for optimising lifespan and range:
- Pre-condition the battery before charging: Involves warming or cooling the battery before charging so that it charges at optimal temperature, allowing for a quicker delivery of electricity.
- Limit EV quick charging: Best used for long journeys only as consistent, rapid charging to 100% can damage the battery.
- Charge at night if possible: Nighttime charging is often the most convenient. Drivers who charge at home will also benefit from off-peak home energy rates.
- Keep up with software updates: Software updates allow for consistent battery health monitoring and enable optimisations that ensure performance.
Typical charging times for popular electric van models
Popular van models vary in their charging times. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular:
- Ford E-Transit: Eight to 12 hours from 0-100% with a 7kW charger.
- Mercedes-Benz eSprinter: 12-13 hours with a 9.6KW charger and 93 minutes to 80% with a 50kW charger.
- Toyota Proace Electric: Seven hours from 0-100% with a 7kW charger.
- Renault Kangoo: Seven hours from 0-100% with a 7kW charger.
- Citroën ë-Dispatch: Seven and a half hours from 0-100% with a 7kW charger
What does the future look like for electric van charging?
EV manufacturers are spending millions on research to improve the convenience and reliability of charging. One of these areas is wireless EV charging. While we regularly wirelessly charge our phones, wireless EV charging is still in the pilot stage. Researchers are currently investigating how EVs can charge through electromagnetic induction coils and receivers, which would allow for wireless charging. Although the technology has yet to reach commercially viable charging speeds, tests are underway to improve them.
The final verdict on electric van charging
There is no one answer to how long it takes to charge your van’s battery, as there are too many variables depending on your model, charging method and station. But, there are ways to speed up and optimise your charging. If you have any questions about electric vans or how to charge them, our team is always on hand to answer them.
