“So… how long does it take to charge one of those things?”—the whispered question from your neighbour as they eye your silent EV wallbox. The answer is as complicated as explaining the offside rule to an American. Because EV charging isn’t one thing—it’s a menu from glacier-slow to supernova-level speed.
The Lamppost Charger – The Drip Feed
Found on terraced streets. Around 5 kW—imagine filling a swimming pool with a teaspoon. A Kia EV6 would take around 15 hours from near empty. Not for panicked charges, but brilliant for overnight logging. Plug in at 6 pm, watch telly, sleep—and wake up full. It sets itself and works seamlessly.
The Wallbox at Home – The Sensible Default
Most homeowners have one. Around 7 kW—like a garden hose: steady and reliable. That same EV6 fully charges from near empty in about 11 hours. You get home, plug it in, and by morning—it’s ready. Simple. Predictable. No worries.
The Supermarket Rapid Charger – Now We’re Talking
At Tesco, Sainsbury’s or Lidl, 50 kW rapid chargers behave like a fire hose. From 10% to 80%, expect 45–60 minutes. That’s enough time to argue with the kids, pick up groceries and queue ten minutes behind someone paying for a single carrot with a card. You’ll add approximately 100 miles of range in that time.
Ultra‑Rapid Chargers – All. The. Power.
These 150–350 kW beasts are found at motorway service stations. Plug in a Hyundai IONIQ 5 or equivalent and miles appear on screen faster than your service station coffee. You’ll gain 100 miles in about 10–15 minutes. It’s absurdly fast—often quicker than the loo queue.
Charging Options at a Glance
- Lamppost (5 kW): ~15 hours (overnight slow charge)
- 7 kW Wallbox: ~11 hours (daily home charge)
- 50 kW Rapid: 45–60 mins (weekly top-up during shopping)
- 150–350 kW Ultra‑Rapid: 10–15 mins (motorway quick charge)
Making Charging Fit Your Lifestyle
Charge while sleeping, shopping, or coffee‑stopping. It’s not a delay—it’s a new routine. If you have a drive, use a lamppost as your overnight backup. Consider rapid chargers for weekly fuel-ups. Planning a road trip? Ultra‑rapids save hours.
Why ONEEV Makes It Even Easier
Use the ONEEV app to find nearby chargers across UK towns like Norwich, Orpington, Glasgow, Coventry or Lugano (London‑adjacent), filter by speed, availability and cost, start sessions remotely, and track your charging history—all in one place.
Final Word
Charging an EV in the UK in 2025 can take anywhere from a full night to a short break for a pasty. That’s not a compromise—it’s convenience. Need power on the go or overnight—there’s always an option. And now, with ONEEV, that power fits your life, not the other way around.
