A Level 2 charger typically adds somewhere between 25 and 44 miles of range per hour of charging, depending on the charger’s amperage and your vehicle. This “miles per hour” figure is one of the easiest ways to think about home charging, since it tells you roughly how much driving range you gain for each hour plugged in. Knowing your rate helps you plan your charging around your daily driving.
Here is how many miles per hour a Level 2 charger adds and what affects it.
The typical range
For most home Level 2 setups, the range added per hour falls in this range:
| Charger output | Approx. power | Range added per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 32 amps | 7.7 kW | About 25 to 30 miles |
| 40 amps | 9.6 kW | About 30 to 37 miles |
| 48 amps | 11.5 kW | About 37 to 44 miles |
These figures assume a typical efficiency of about 3 to 4 miles per kWh. A more efficient car gains more range per hour, while a larger or less efficient vehicle gains less.
How the rate is calculated
The miles-per-hour figure comes from two things: how much power the charger delivers, and how efficiently your car turns that power into range. Power in kilowatts is the amperage times 240 volts, so a 48-amp charger delivers about 11.5 kW. Multiply that power by your car’s efficiency in miles per kWh, and you get the range added per hour. For example, 11.5 kW at 3.5 miles per kWh is roughly 40 miles per hour.
Your car’s onboard charger sets the ceiling
An important detail is that your vehicle’s onboard charger limits how much power it can accept. If your car tops out at 7.7 kW, it will add range at that rate even on a more powerful charger, because the car is the bottleneck. This is why it is worth knowing your vehicle’s onboard charging capacity before assuming a higher-amperage charger will add more miles per hour.
What this means for daily charging
The practical takeaway is reassuring. If you drive an average amount each day, a Level 2 charger replaces that range in just an hour or two, and a full overnight charge adds well over a hundred miles. For most drivers, the miles-per-hour rate of a Level 2 charger is more than enough to keep up with daily driving through overnight charging.
Compare this to Level 1 charging on a standard 120-volt outlet, which adds only about 3 to 5 miles per hour, and it is clear why most owners choose Level 2 for home charging.
A Level 2 charger typically adds about 25 to 44 miles of range per hour, from around 25 to 30 miles at 32 amps up to about 37 to 44 miles at 48 amps, assuming typical efficiency. Your car’s onboard charger sets the ceiling, so a faster charger only helps if the vehicle can use it. For most drivers, this rate easily covers daily driving with overnight charging.
Stella Electric installs Level 2 EV chargers matched to your vehicle for homeowners across the Baltimore area and throughout Maryland, with flat-rate pricing and no overtime charges. We will help you get the charging speed that fits your car and your driving. Financing is available on qualifying projects.
