What factors affect charging speeds?

Charging speeds are influenced by several factors. First, the charging rate of your EV will determine the charging speeds, as will the power level of the charge point you’re using. For example, if you’re charging using a 150kW charger, but your EV can take only 100kW, then that (100 kW) will be the maximum power level that can be input to the EV battery. Be sure to check the power of charge point in the Shell Recharge app. 

Another key factor is the energy level of the battery – or state of charge (SOC) – at the start of charging. For example, the charging speed for the same vehicle would usually be faster when SOC is between 20-50%, compared to when SOC is around 90%.

Ambient temperature and the temperature of the battery also have a big impact on charging speeds. Here is where you can make the most of pre-conditioning system (see the handbook), if it has one. For instance, very low or high temperatures can have a negative effect on charging speeds, as your battery is out of its comfort zone.
You can avoid this by using the EV’s pre-conditioning system.  The battery heats up whilst you drive, so avoid charging right at the start of a journey on cool days (below 15°C) and especially cold (below 0°C) and very cold (below -5°C) days. 

Other factors that affect charging speeds include the EV battery capacity, your energy use while charging (for example using the AC or heating while you’re waiting), and the EV on-board charger. 

Lastly, the EV battery management system can influence charging speeds, as it could limit charging speeds at any point in time to protect the battery.