How Many Kilowatt-Hours of Electricity Does It Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle Once?
2 Answers
After a complete discharge, charging once requires approximately 1.08 kilowatt-hours of electricity, with a typical charging time ranging from 8 to 10 hours. This means the electricity consumption per hour of charging is between 0.1 and 0.14 kilowatt-hours. The amount of electricity charged into an electric vehicle's battery is generally 1.05 times the battery's discharge capacity. For a newly purchased vehicle, due to the time required for factory shipment, transportation, and storage, the battery may not be fully charged, necessitating an initial charge before use. It is important to check whether the rated input voltage for charging matches the power supply voltage. The battery can be charged directly on the vehicle, but the power switch must be turned off. Alternatively, it can be removed and taken to a suitable location, such as indoors, for charging.
I remember when I used to commute with an electric car, I researched the issue of charging capacity. The amount of electricity needed for charging an electric vehicle mainly depends on the battery capacity and remaining charge. For example, a car with a 60 kWh battery at 20% charge would theoretically need 48 kWh to fully charge. However, in reality, there are losses during the charging process, plus the power consumption of the battery management system, so the actual electricity drawn from the grid would be about 10% more. The differences between models can be quite significant—mini cars might only need around 30 kWh, while large SUVs can exceed 100 kWh. I usually check the numbers displayed on the charging station screen; a full charge typically shows around 55 kWh, which is enough for my weekly commute. Personally, I recommend not frequently letting the battery level drop too low before charging, as it can negatively impact battery lifespan.
