Charging an electric car requires a certain amount of energy, which is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This amount depends on the size of the car’s battery, the type of charging station, and the level of charge to be achieved.
How to calculate electricity consumption for charging an electric car?
The total electricity consumption for charging an electric car can be calculated using the formula:
Required energy (kW\cdotph)=Battery capacity (kW\cdotph)xLoss ratio
The loss factor is on average about 1.05–1.15 (i.e. 5-15%), as part of the energy is lost during conversion. For example, if a battery has a capacity of 50 kWh, it will take approximately 52.5-57.5 kWh to fully charge it.
Types of charging stations and charging speed
AC charging:
Charging from a regular outlet (1.5-2.3 kW): This is the slowest charging method. For example, a 50 kWh battery will take about 20-30 hours.
AC fast charging (7-22 kW): Used at home or public charging stations and significantly reduces charging time – 2-8 hours for an average electric vehicle.
Direct current (DC) fast charging:
Fast charging stations Ecoline (50-150 kW): They can charge the battery up to 80% in about 30-40 minutes.
Super-fast charging stations (250-350 kW): These are the most advanced type of chargers that can provide a charge of up to 80% in less than 20 minutes.
Calculation example
To calculate the total number of kWh needed to charge an electric car, consider a battery with a capacity of 60 kWh:
Charging from a regular outlet (2 kW):
Charging time=60:2=30 hours
Charging Time=60/2 =30 hours
Fast charging at a 50 kW station:
Charging time=60/50=1,2 hours (about 72 minutes)
Charging Time=50/60=1.2 hours (about 72 minutes)
How much does it cost?
The price of charging an electric car depends on the electricity tariff. For example, at a tariff of UAH 2 per kWh, charging a battery for 60 kWh will cost UAH 120 (not including energy losses).
