How long does it take to charge an EV? Why 22 kW isn't always faster

After a condo installs chargers, the questions residents ask most are "how long does it take?" and "why is my car charging slower than 22 kW?" The answer is a part inside the car.

The on-board charger sets the speed

On AC, power from the charger goes to the car's on-board charger, which converts it to DC for the battery. So the real speed is the lower of the charger's power and what the on-board charger accepts.

For example, the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV have a 6.6 kW on-board charger, so they take the same time on a 7 kW or a 22 kW charger. Cars that accept 11 kW or 22 kW get the full benefit of a 22 kW charger.

A simple way to estimate charging time

Charging time (hours) ≈ energy needed (kWh) ÷ power the car accepts (kW)

For example, charging a car with a 60 kWh battery from 30% to 100% needs about 42 kWh:

Real times depend on the model, year, temperature and battery condition, and cars slow down near full to protect the battery. Your car's manual lists its on-board charger power.

You don't need to fill up every time

• Most cars go about 300–500 km on a full charge.
• Most people charge in cycles, 2–3 times a week from 30% to 100%, which is enough for daily life.
• So overnight charging in a condo is enough for almost every car, even one that only accepts 6.6 kW.

A household socket is a backup

Charging from a household socket takes about 11–24 hours per charge. It's better for emergencies than everyday use, and ordinary sockets aren't designed to carry high current for hours. A bay with a wall charger means residents don't have to rely on it.

Which cars work with EVC chargers?

Type 2 chargers work with every EV brand in the Thai market, including Tesla, BYD, MG, GWM, NETA, Volvo, BMW and any brand using the Type 2 standard. For the difference between AC and DC charging, read AC vs DC charging, and for the chargers EVC installs, see EV chargers for condos.