Hey there! Have you been considering an electric vehicle purchase lately? With more models offering increased range and expanding charging networks, making the switch to an EV has never made more sense. But who really wants to wait around for hours to recharge, right?
Luckily the latest electric vehicles are solving consumer headaches around charging times by adopting ultra-fast charging capabilities. Just like you‘d expect to fill up a gas tank in 5-10 minutes, some new EVs can restore hundreds of miles of range in around the same time using state-of-the-art rapid charging tech!
In this guide, we‘ll highlight the top 5 fastest charging electric cars available, outlining key factors like charge rates, battery specs and real-world capability. You‘ll also learn exactly what enables some EVs to charge so astonishingly quick. Let‘s dig in!
EV Charging 101
Before highlighting the fastest charging models, let‘s quickly cover some key electric vehicle charging basics:
AC vs DC Charging
There are two main types of EV charging:
AC charging – Uses alternating current electricity to slowly recharge an EV battery overnight at home, typically at rates from 1 kW to 22 kW.
DC fast charging – Uses direct current electricity to rapidly recharge an EV battery in less time, typically from 50 kW to 350 kW charging rates. DC fast charging stations are typically found at commercial locations.
Connector Types
CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla and other connector types handle various charging power levels. Newer EVs typically use CCS and Tesla connectors for the fastest DC fast charge rates.
CCS (Combined Charging System) connectors are fast becoming the global standard, used by automakers like Porsche, Mercedes, Kia and more.
CHAdeMO connectors are also popular DC fast charge plugs used mainly by Japanese brands.
Tesla uses its own proprietary charging connector and extensive Supercharger network available exclusively to Tesla drivers.
What Factors Enable Fast Charging?
So what allows cutting edge electric vehicles to charge so astonishingly quick? Advances in areas like:
- Battery chemistry (NCM, NCA cathode materials)
- Thermal management via cooling plates, fins and pumps
- Software that optimizes voltage and current levels without damaging sensitive battery cells
- 800+ volt electronic architecture – doubling traditional EV voltage handling
- Extremely precise monitoring of temperature and voltage characteristics during ultra-rapid charging sessions
It‘s this potent combination of intelligent battery design, advanced electronics and obsessive monitoring that now allows some EVs to safely charge at rates over 250 kW and even up to 350 kW — that translates to adding around 20 miles of range per minute of charging!
The Top 5 Fastest Charging Electric Vehicles
Alright, let‘s get to the main event and highlight reviews of the 5 quickest charging EVs available:
1. Lucid Air
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Max Charging Rate | 300 kW |
| Miles/Hour Charging | 20 |
| Battery Capacity | 113 kWh |
| Miles of Range | 520 |
| Acceleration (0-60 mph) | 2.5 s |
| Price | $169,000 (Dream Perf.) |
The Lucid Air is the current golden child of the EV world when it comes to charging and performance. Thanks to a compact yet capacious 113 kWh battery pack paired with a highly efficient 900+ volt electrical architecture, the Air can charge at industry-leading rates over 300 kW.
Real world tests have proven the Lucid can indeed charge reliably from 5-80% charge in just 25 minutes. That equates to adding around 20 miles of driving range for each minute plugged in – charging convenience on par with filling up a gas car!
2. Kia EV6
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Max Charging Rate | 350 kW |
| Miles/Hour Charging | 18 mins (10-80%) |
| Battery Capacity | 77.4 kWh |
| Miles of Range | 310 |
| Acceleration (0-60 mph) | 5.2 s |
| Price | $42,000 (RWD) |
The Kia EV6 combines rapid charging capabilities in the 300-350 kW range with a practical crossover form factor. All at an attractive starting price in the low $40k‘s.
Using next-gen 800V battery architecture and advanced battery monitoring tech, the EV6 can swallow electrons quickly from 10-80% charge in around 18 minutes when using compatible ultra-fast DC stations. Not needing to charge long allows drivers to get back on the road with less headache.
And if 310 miles of range isn‘t enough, there‘s also a higher-capacity 58 kWh RWD model capable of going 528 km (~328 miles) on a single charge!
3. Porsche Taycan
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Max Charging Rate | 270 kW |
| Battery Capacity | 93.4 kWh |
| Miles of Range | 225 |
| Acceleration (0-60 mph) | 2.6 s |
| Price | $185,000 (Turbo S) |
When Porsche set out to build their first all-electric sports car, charging speed capability was clearly one of their top priorities. Utilizing similar 800V tech as found in competitors like Audi and Hyundai, the Porsche Taycan can swallow electrons from DC fast chargers at rates up to 270 kW.
That allows drivers to efficiently recharge both quickly and consistently. In just 5 minutes plugged in, Taycan owners can add about 100 kilometers (62 miles) of driving range. Impressive considering it takes my old Prius around 7 hours to do that!
And while Porsche performance doesn‘t come cheap, the Taycan does offer a variety of trim options so those who value fast charging don‘t need to break open their entire piggybank to enjoy rapid EV fill ups.
4. Mercedes EQS
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Max Charging Rate | 200 kW |
| 20-80% Charge Time | 31 mins |
| Battery Capacity | 107.8 kWh |
| Miles of Range | 350 |
| Acceleration (0-60 mph) | 4.1 s |
| Price | $125,000 |
You‘d expect the first dedicated electric flagship sedan from Mercedes-Benz to come equipped for speedy charging, and the EQS delivers. Utilizing an 800+ volt charging system, drivers can rapidly restore range reaching up to 200 kW charging peaks.
Mercedes cites the EQS 580 4MATIC trim can charge from just 20% battery to 80% capacity in around 31 minutes. I think most of us would happily grab a cup of joe or take a bathroom break in the time it takes to add multiple hundreds miles of juice back into this beautiful EV sedan!
5. Tesla Model S
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Max Charging Rate* | 250 kW |
| Miles / 15 min Charge | 200 |
| Battery Capacity | 99 kWh |
| Miles of Range | 405 |
| Acceleration (0-60 mph) | 1.99 s |
| Price | $104,990 |
And what would a list of top charging EVs be without the pioneer himself – Tesla! While the Model S may no longer claim the crown when it comes to outright charging speed, recent updates have notably improved charging capabilities.
Leveraging tech and lessons learned from the insane 1100+ hp Model S Plaid variant, the 2021 refresh Long Range Plus model can now charge at accelerated rates of over 200 kW. That enables drivers to add a whopping ~200 miles of driving range in just 15 minutes connected to Tesla‘s industry leading Supercharger network!
Tesla‘s continually expanding charging infrastructure is also a huge perk, offering unparalleled fast charging access for owners across routes worldwide.
(*with V3 Superchargers)
And there you have it! The top 5 fastest charging EVs available. With charge rate capabilities up to 20+ miles of added range per minute, these electric vehicles can now re-juice faster than many of us can grab a quick lunch. The charging delays or range anxiety of earlier EVs continues to fade from memory as charging tech matches pace with our need for speed and convenience.
So what do you think? Has this guide helped summarize both what enables rapid charging as well as sorted the leaders when it comes to real world performance? Let me know what your favorites are and any other questions!
Key Takeaways:
- New EVs can charge 50-80% battery in 15-25 minutes thanks to advanced tech
- 800+ volt systems, improved battery chemistry/cooling are key enablers
- Lucid Air leads the pack with over 20 miles range added per charging minute
- Porsche, Mercedes and others also offer rapid charge rates up to 270+ kW
- Tesla network offers unparalleled access to 200+ mile/15 min charging
I‘m thinking my next post will cover coming attractions when it comes to charging speed. Automakers continue pushing past the 300 kW and even 400 kW barriers. Exciting times ahead!
