What does Charge Rate Setting mean?

Explanation

Some EVs allow you to adjust the maximum current (in amps) or power (in kW) the car draws during AC charging. This is useful when charging from a weak electrical circuit that might trip a breaker at full power, or when you want to reduce the load on a shared electrical supply.

You typically find this setting in the car's charging menu on the infotainment screen. It might let you choose between 8A, 10A, 13A, 16A, and 32A, or simply offer a slider. Reducing the charge rate means slower charging, but it prevents overloading circuits that were not designed for continuous high-current loads.

This setting only affects AC charging. DC fast charger power is controlled by the negotiation between the car and the charger, and you cannot manually limit it from the car's settings. Some cars remember your charge rate setting per location (like your home), so you do not need to adjust it every time you plug in.

Learn more from U.S. Department of Energy AFDC.

Where you'll see this

• On your car dashboard

Common confusion

Lowering the charge rate setting does not damage the car or battery. It simply reduces the current draw. If you set it too low, charging just takes longer. You can always increase it again.

Example

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