Once a niche product reserved for the wealthy, electric vehicle (EV) sales have greatly increased over the past eight years. Even with the pandemic, data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows worldwide sales of 10 million plug-in EVs of all types (cars, vans, light duty trucks) in 2020, a 43 percent increase over 2019 and up from less than 15,000 in 2010.

According to EVAdoption, independent consultants to the EV industry, sales forecasts show the numbers will continue to grow. Their data shows sales of 525,000 EVs in the United States in 2021, with expected sales of 4,700,000 in 2030 — an average annual increase of 27 percent.

Due to emerging technologies to extend battery life, tax incentives like the EV tax credit and many other factors, all major domestic and import original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have embraced electric vehicles. Several of the world’s largest OEMs announced they will reconfigure entire production lines to produce only electric vehicles. Beginning in 2030, Volvo will only sell electric cars.

With the purchase prices coming down and driving range increasing, the future for EVs appears bright.

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle?

On average, it takes roughly 10 hours to fully charge a drained 60 kilowatt hour (kWh) EV battery with a Level 2 240-volt charger.

Your EV probably comes with a Level 1 120V charger, which may take almost 40 hours to charge the same battery (here’s all you need to know about EV charger types). The actual time depends on several factors, including:

• Battery size: Larger kWh batteries take longer to recharge.
• Max charging rate of onboard charger: These vary by OEM.
• Battery level: Charging speed slows after the battery reaches 80 percent charge.
• Speed and power level of the charger: Chargers with higher kWh output recharge faster.
• Climate: Hot and cold temperatures affect battery efficiency and increase charge times. Here’s how to charge your EV in winter.

How Far Can You Go On One EV Battery Charge?

On average, EVs can travel 200 to 300 miles on a fully charged battery. That’s typically enough to meet the needs of the average commuter. Various factors can influence that range, including:

• Speed: The faster you go, the harder the electric motor works, drawing down the battery.
• Payload: More weight (passengers and cargo) places a larger load on the motor.
• Tires: Low air pressure and worn tires reduce traction, lowering miles per charge.
• Driving conditions: Just like their fossil fuel counterparts, stop-and-go driving, hard acceleration, extreme temperatures and severe weather conditions affect range.
• HVAC: Running the air conditioning, heater, defroster, or heated steering wheel will quickly drain the battery.
• Battery degradation: An EV’s battery slowly loses capacity as it ages.