The four charging speeds
Charger power is measured in kilowatts (kW). The higher the number, the faster electricity flows into the battery – up to the maximum your car can accept.
| Speed | Power | Typical places | Rough time to add 100 miles* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow | Under 7 kW (often 3 kW) | 3-pin plug at home, some street lamps | 8–10 hours |
| Fast | 7–22 kW | Home wallboxes, workplaces, car parks, supermarkets | 3–4 hours at 7 kW |
| Rapid | 25–99 kW (usually 50 kW) | Service stations, retail parks, charging hubs | 30–45 minutes at 50 kW |
| Ultra-rapid | 100 kW and above | Motorway services and major charging hubs | 15–25 minutes |
*Approximate, for a typical car using about 3.5 miles per kWh. Real times depend on your car, battery size, temperature and how full the battery already is.
Why your car may charge slower than the charger's rating
Three things limit charging speed:
- Your car's maximum charging power. A car that accepts 50 kW won't charge faster on a 150 kW ultra-rapid charger. Many cars can take 11 kW or less on AC chargers, even at a 22 kW post.
- How full the battery is. Rapid charging slows down as the battery fills, especially above about 80%. That's why rapid charging times are usually quoted from 10% or 20% to 80%.
- Temperature. A cold battery charges more slowly; many cars warm the battery ("preconditioning") when you set a rapid charger as your destination.
Which speed should I use?
- At home overnight: a 7 kW wallbox fills most cars from low to full overnight, and is usually the cheapest way to charge.
- While shopping or at work: fast chargers top you up while the car is parked anyway.
- On long journeys: rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are designed for quick stops. Charging to around 80% is usually quicker overall than waiting for 100%.
How many fast chargers are there?
Motor Snappy lists 25,724 public charging locations across the UK from Open Charge Map, including:
- 1,031 with ultra-rapid charging (100 kW+)
- 4,440 with rapid or ultra-rapid charging in total
- 10,321 fast (7–22 kW) and 10,757 slow sites
Search your postcode or town to see the nearest chargers with their speed, connectors, operator and cost.