Charging curve — the number that actually sets journey time

Peak power is quoted because it is a single number. It is also the number a car holds for the shortest time. What matters on a journey is the average sustained across the window you actually charge in — typically from a low state of charge up to somewhere short of full, because the last stretch is always slow.

Curves fail in different ways. Some cars hold near-peak power for a long plateau and then taper sharply. Others peak briefly and decline steadily from the start. A car with a lower peak and a flat curve routinely beats a car with a spectacular peak and an early taper, and the specification sheet says the opposite.

Why it matters when buying

Two consequences follow. First, compare average charging power over a realistic window rather than peak; independent testers publish this and manufacturers rarely do. Second, temperature moves the whole curve, which is why preconditioning belongs in the same conversation.

Chinese models with LFP packs have historically shown a more pronounced cold-weather taper than nickel-based rivals, and it is the most common substantive complaint in European owner groups. It is also the area where software updates have made the most difference after launch.

Related: preconditioning · BMS · CCS2