EV terms, in plain English
Charging curve and 10–80% time
An EV’s maximum charging speed doesn’t tell you how quickly you’ll actually get back on the road.
The charging curve shows how much power an EV accepts as the battery fills. Most EVs can only hold their advertised peak charging speed for part of a DC fast-charging session.
A car may start quickly, reach its peak and then reduce the charging rate in steps. Another car with a lower peak may hold a strong rate for longer. The second car can sometimes complete the same stop sooner.
Battery temperature, the battery’s starting charge, the charger’s output and whether the site is sharing power between vehicles can all affect the result.
Charging generally slows substantially above about 80% to protect the battery. That is why manufacturers commonly publish a 10–80% DC charging time. It reflects the part of the battery you are most likely to use during a quick road-trip stop.
The quoted time is usually measured under favourable conditions with a charger powerful enough for the car, so treat it as a comparison figure rather than a promise.
Why it matters: for regular long-distance driving, compare the 10–80% time and the shape of the charging curve, not only the peak kW number. Several shorter stops can also be quicker than waiting for the battery to reach 100%.
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