- 7kW home chargers add around 25 miles of range per hour.
- Most EVs take 5-8 hours to charge from 10-80% at 7kW.
- A 50-mile range boost takes as little as 2 hours.
- 11kW home chargers are 57% faster but require a 3-phase power supply.
- For most people, a 7kW home charger is more than fast enough for an EV!
A 7kW home charger adds up to 25-miles of range per hour, taking around 7 hours to top up an electric car battery by 50kWh.
This charging speed is fast enough for overnight charging to wake up to a full battery. Upgrading from the standard 3kW charger to a 7kW home charger cuts charging times in half. All major electric vehicle brands like Tesla, Nissan, and MG support 7kW charging.
How long it takes to charge an electric car with a 7kW home charger
It takes between five and eight hours to charge most electric cars from 10% to 80% with a 7kW home charger. For example, the MG4 EV takes 7.5 hours with its 51kWh battery. Charging from 0-100% takes 9 hours at 7kW.
How can you calculate how long it takes to charge an electric car? We like using the Blink Charging calculator – it lets you select the charger power, battery size, and charge level to get an accurate estimate.
Note that the fastest charge speed of 7kW depends on the load balancing of your home and whether the battery pack is warm or cold. Additionally, the bigger your battery, the longer it takes to replenish.
7kW home charger
A 7kW home charger requires a 240V outlet, but is compatible with single-phase power, making installation relatively straightforward. While faster 11kW and 22kW chargers are available, they require a more expensive three-phase power supply. For most homeowners, a 7kW home charger strikes the ideal balance between fast charging speed and affordable installation. With a 7kW home charger, drivers can conveniently charge their electric vehicle overnight and wake up to a full battery every morning.
Charging is all about convenience, and the best way for it to be convenient is for it to be fast. If you live in a house with a single-phase power supply, the fastest EV charger you can get is 7.4kW, which adds up to 30-miles of range per hour.
The fastest single-phase home chargers are 7kW, 7.2kW and 7.4kW. A higher number means faster charge speeds if your electric car supports the max rate.
Here are the charge speeds for a few popular home chargers we’ve reviewed:
- Hypervolt Home Home 3 Pro – 7kW
- Pod Point Solo 3 – 7kW
- Ohme ePod – 7.4kW
- Ohme Home Pro – 7.4kW
- Easee One – 7.4kW
- Indra Smart PRO – 7.4kW
What does this mean in the real world? Our guide explains all.
- How long it takes to charge an electric car with a 7kW home charger
- 7kW home charger
- 7kW, 7.2kW and 7.4kW charge speeds
- How long does it take to charge an electric car with a 7kw home charger
- Calculating total charge time (cheat calculation)
- How long does it take to charge to full at 7kW?
- How to get faster home charge speeds
- Things that affect EV charge times
- Is 7kW enough?
- Final thoughts on 7kW home chargers
7kW, 7.2kW and 7.4kW charge speeds
An electric vehicle’s battery capacity is measured in kWh (kilowatt-hours) which is the amount of energy it can hold. Charging power is measured in kW (kilowatts), with charging speeds determined by the kW output from the home charger.
You can expect to achieve the following range boosts per hour:
- 7kW – 25 miles of range per hour
- 7.2kW – 28 miles of range per hour
- 7.4kW – 30 miles of range per hour
How long does it take to charge an electric car with a 7kw home charger
It takes five to eight hours to top up most electric car batteries from 10-80% at 7kW. You shouldn’t go over 80% SoC to preserve the battery.
A 7kW home charger adds around 25 miles of range per hour. For a 50kWh battery, like the Nissan Leaf, a full charge from 10-100% takes around 5 hours. The Tesla Model 3 has a 75kWh battery, which takes around 7 hours to charge from 10-80% on a 7kW home charger.
Large SUVs like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1S have 90+ kWh batteries. On a 7kW charger, expect a full 10-100% charge time of 9-11 hours. While 7kW delivers ample overnight charging, some EV owners opt for faster 11kW or 22kW charging. But this requires upgrading the home’s electrical supply to three-phase power.
Overall, a 7kW home EV charger hits the sweet spot for most homes, with charge speeds fast enough for overnight charging at an affordable installation cost. EV owners can conveniently wake up to a fully charged electric vehicle battery every morning.
Calculating total charge time (cheat calculation)
As a general rule of thumb, for every two decimal point increases (e.g., 7kw to 7.2kw), charge times are slashed 2%. So, a 7.4kW home charger is 4% faster than a 7kW charger.
We can also calculate the total charge time at all charge speeds by taking the battery capacity (kWh) and dividing it by the charge speed (kW) and multiplying it by .9 (.9 refers to the power efficiency, with 0.1 loss to be expected).
Here’s the equation:
Charging time (hours) = battery capacity (kWh) ÷ charger power (kW) x .9
In the below examples, we’ll assume the battery capacity is 42kWh:
- 7kW – 6 hours 0 minutes from 10-100%
- 7.2kW – 5 hours 50 minutes from 10-100%
- 7kW – 5 hours 41 minutes from 10-100%
How long does it take to charge to full at 7kW?
8-12 hours is the norm for batteries over 60kWh. For example, the Tesla Model 3 (79kWh) takes 11 hours and 45 minutes to charge from 0-100%. Smaller batteries take less time – the BMW i3 (42.2 kWh) takes 6 hours 25 minutes.
How to get faster home charge speeds
Sometimes, your car might charge slowly. Try pre-heating the battery before charging and see if this helps. Your charger might also be balancing the power demand.
If you want even faster home charge speeds than 7kW, you need to upgrade from a single-phase to a 3-phase power supply, which will unlock the world of 11kW home chargers which are 57% faster than 7KW home chargers.
Some home chargers, like the Wallbox Pulsar Plus, support both single-phase and 3-phase power, in this case up to 22kW.
Things that affect EV charge times
Charging your electric vehicle seems simple – plug it in and wait to charge up. However, several key factors actually determine how quickly your EV battery goes from empty to full.
Knowing these charge time influencers can help you better understand and optimise your personal charging experience.
Temperature Extremes Slow Things Down
Frigid winter nights strain batteries, with cold temperatures reducing their charging efficiency. In fact, EV batteries operate best at around 72°F. Utilising preconditioning features that pre-heat or pre-cool your vehicle can help counteract weather impacts. Pay attention to the thermometer when planning charge times.
Your Car Limits Onboard Charging Rate
Surprisingly, a more powerful charger won’t necessarily charge faster. Each EV model accepts power at its own maximum AC charging rate via the onboard charger. For example, even a robust 22kW charger won’t accelerate charge times for a Tesla beyond its 11kW cap. Know your vehicle’s charger limit when selecting charging equipment.
Current Battery Level Matters
Common sense tells us that starting with a 40% charge versus 10% equals faster complete charging. While 100% charges aren’t ideal for battery health, remember the charge level when estimating time to “full.” Partial top-off sessions are gentler on batteries anyway.
More Vehicles Means Slower Charging
For multi-EV homes, simultaneous charging splits the charger’s power rating between vehicles, slowing individual charge times significantly. With two EVs and one 7 kW charger, each vehicle may only draw 3-3.6 kW. Carefully schedule charging sessions to avoid extremes.
Battery Size Impacts Charge Times
Vehicles don’t all have equal battery capacities, so charge duration correlates closely with battery size. With more stored energy to replace, larger EV battery packs require more recharge time. Set expectations accordingly.
Is 7kW enough?
For most drivers, a 7kW home charger provides ample charge speed. It adds around 25 miles of range per hour. If you drive less than 50 miles per day, a 7kW charger can fully recharge overnight. Even for road trippers and long-distance commuters, a 7kW charger can restore plenty of range during downtime at home.
Upgrading to an 11kW or 22kW charger cuts charge times, but requires a more complex 3-phase electrical supply. Also, public DC fast charging stations can add 200+ miles of range in under an hour – faster than any home charger.
While 11kW or 22kW charging provides some benefit for drivers pushing over 100 miles daily, most EV owners will find a 7kW home charger provides the best blend of fast charging and affordable installation. Unless you need to minimise charging time or have high mileage, a 7kW charger offers ample speed to conveniently recharge an electric vehicle overnight.
Final thoughts on 7kW home chargers
When it comes to charging your EV, convenience is key. After caring for your daily transportation needs, the last thing you want is to wait around for hours to power back up.
Thankfully, most modern electric vehicles fully recharge overnight using common 7kW home chargers. These affordable, easy-to-install devices give you the confidence to wake up to a “full tank” every morning.
Within five to eight hours, a 7kW charger easily restores your EV battery from a 10% to 80% charge. Translated into driving range, that equals about 25 miles added per hour—more than enough for the average daily commute.
While faster three-phase chargers can nearly halve charge times, few homeowners require such speed to accommodate their lifestyle.
With most households plugging in during low-demand evening hours, even multiple EVs can share a single 7kW device with only minimal impact to charge times. Simply staggering charge start times keeps things running efficiently.
Regardless of outside temperatures, battery size, or existing charge level, a robust 7kW charger effortlessly meets most owners’ recharging needs. Built-in temperature controls and charge balancing technology keep your EV operating at peak efficiency too. And advanced safety features provide peace of mind while charging is in progress.
When it comes down to it, conveniently waking up to a fully charged EV day after day is what matters for most drivers. With battery ranges exceeding 200 miles on a single charge, even busy families can rely on an overnight top up from a standard 7kW home charger.
Simple, fast, affordable, safe – plugging into the convenience of a 7kW charger lets you put driving first, charging second. And that’s exactly what an EV is meant to deliver. Unplug from the pump, and plug into convenience with an easy home EV charger upgrade. Your lifestyle will thank you!
