Understanding charging speeds
Understanding EV charging speeds at bp charge
At bp charge, we want charging to be simple, clear and easy to understand. This guide explains how charging speeds work and what you can expect when you plug in with our network.
Charging power explained
Electric vehicle chargers are often described by their maximum power output, measured in kilowatts (kW). This refers to the maximum amount of power the charger can provide — not a guaranteed charging speed.
Your vehicle may not draw the charger’s full rated power, even on rapid or ultrafast chargers (defined below). This is normal and depends on how your vehicle manages charging.
Charger power capability
bp charge operates a mix of charger types across the network, we define these as:
- Rapid chargers: capable of delivering max 75kW, with selected sites capable of max 150kW (see bp charge app).
- Ultrafast chargers: capable of delivering max 300kW.
- Fast chargers: in some apps or platforms (such as Google), the term ‘fast’ may be used to describe chargers. These labels come from each platform, not bp charge.
These figures describe the maximum power the hardware can deliver under optimal conditions. Typical charging speeds are often lower than the maximum power rating shown and depend on your vehicle, battery level, and site conditions.
Maximum speeds: what they mean and don’t mean
Phrases such as “up to 150kW” or “max 300kW” describe the charger hardware, not the charging speed you will experience. Actual charging speed depends on the factors below and will often be lower than the maximum shown.
What can impact charging speed
- Your EV’s make, model and battery technology.
- Your battery’s current state of charge (charging slows as the battery fills).
- Whether power is being shared with another vehicle.
- Site level power distribution.
- Ambient temperature and vehicle software limits.
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