When you buy an electric vehicle for your daily commute a full charge should, in general, be enough to take you back and forth from work and around the city to do your daily errands. But every now and then, it happens that you need to take a longer trip, in which case the possibility to charge fast is a must. Every electric car out there comes with different charging options, including the option to charge it overnight at home. But, when on the road, this feature is not exactly handy, and you also can’t wait for hours at a time so that your EV gets a full battery. Luckily you don’t have to, as many electric vehicles these days offer the possibility of fast charging. Of course, you shouldn’t expect all the models out there to charge as fast as the Lucid Air which needs only 20 minutes to give you an additional 300 miles, but there are plenty of models that can be charged up to 80 percent in less than half an hour - this is the definitive list.
1 Lucid Air Pure - 350 kW, 15 minutes
With the highest range of any EV ever - 520 miles – the Lucid Air is most likely going to be the electric car of the future. And we’re not saying this because you can get up to 1,050 horsepower, but because the Lucid Air comes with the fastest EV charging system available out there: a 900V+ architecture with a 350-kilowatt charger that can get the Air’s battery from 20 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes. The car's built-in battery charger, the Wunderbox, is compatible with nearly every public charging station, and it is capable of adjusting the incoming voltage, and ultimately boosting voltage for the quickest possible charge. The Lucid Air can also be charged using a typical household NEMA 5-15 outlet when it adds up to 40 miles of range per hour of charge. Lucid is also offering a Lucid Connected Home Charging Station that adds up to 80 miles of range per hour of charge.
2 Kia EV6/ Hyundai Ioniq 5 - 350kW, 18 minutes
If you think you’ve heard a lot about the Kia EV6 lately, prepare to hear a lot more as Kia’s EV is here to wow everyone. It is not only a very efficient vehicle with ranges up to 310 miles, but it is also a capable, fast EV, with a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.6 seconds in the GT trim. But the best feature of the EV6 is its charging capabilities. Both the Kia model, and its Hyundai Ioniq 5 sibling, are offered with the world’s first patented multi-charging system that supports both 400v and 800v DC charging. The system works on DC chargers with speeds ranging from 50kW to 350kW, and when charged at 350 kW, it gets the battery from 10 to 80% in less than 18 minutes. This means that if you are in a rush, you can add about 70 miles in less than 5 minutes. All EV6 models can also be charged at a maximum of 11 kW at an AC charging station, where it will take anywhere between six and eight hours for a full charge.
3 Genesis Electrified GV70, Genesis GV60 - 350kW, 18 minutes
Relatively new models on the EV market, the electrified GV70 and the GV60 give a cheaper, more luxurious alternative to Tesla SUVs. Both models have a range between 235 and 248 miles, which may not be a lot, but they benefit from a very fast charging system. Just like many other models from the Hyundai lineup, both the Genesis Electrified GV70 and the Genesis GV60 come with a 400/800V multi-rapid charging system that boosts the 400V supplied by the charger to 800V. When using the ultra-speed charging function and a 350-kW charger, the battery goes from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. This will add about 185 miles to the battery life, meaning you can continue your journey in the blink of an eye. Using a standard 10.5kW charging system charges the battery completely from 10% in around 7 hours and 40 minutes.
4 Audi E-Tron GT - 270kW, 21 minutes
Launched in mid-2021, the Audi e-tron GT arrives with a combined output of 469 horsepower or 590 horsepower if you opt for the GT RS model. Depending on the model, the range is either 238 or 232 miles, which is right about the same as competition, but the e-tron GT has one big advantage: it comes with an 800V DC fast charging with charging speeds of up to 270 kW. When used at its maximum capacity, the system charges the battery from five to 80 percent in about 21 minutes. This will add an extra 180 miles of range in pretty much no time. The Audi e-tron GT is fitted as standard with an 11 kW onboard charger for Type 2 AC charging, but a 22 kW on-board charger is available as an option. With the 11 kW option recharging the battery takes 9 hours and 15 minutes, while the 22 kW one needs only 4.5 hours.
5 Genesis Electrified G80 - 350kW, 22 minutes
In early 2021, Genesis unveiled its first EV: the electrified G80 - a luxury sedan that promises a lot. With a range of up to 282 miles and a price above $80,000, the Electrified G80 does offer an impressive drive. And, since it is a pleasure to keep it on the road, just like the other Genesis models, the Electrified G80 benefits from the 400/800V multi-rapid charging technology. The only exception being that when using the ultra-speed charging function and a 350-kW charger, the battery of the Electrified G80 goes from 10 to 80 percent in just 22 minutes (with battery temperature of 25℃), which is a bit slower than the G70 and G60. A standard 11kW charger is also available, in which case it takes 9 hours for a full recharge.
6 Porsche Taycan - 270kW, 22.5 minutes
With a range of only 206-246 miles, the Porsche Taycan is the first electric vehicle in the world to have an 800-volt charging system. This feature allows the Taycan to add an extra 62 miles of range in just five minutes, while charging from 5 to 80% takes only 22.5 minutes. The Taycan can also be charged at the regular 400-volt charging stations using an onboard DC charger with 50 kW or 150 kW. Customers will also get an onboard charger with 11 kW for charging using alternating current, or an optional 22 kW one. Using the onboard chargers, the Taycan needs either nine or four hours and 30 minutes to charge.
7 Rivian R1S/R1T - 200 kW, 27 minutes
The Rivian R1T is one of the first electric trucks, and despite many others being unveiled after that, it remains one of the best options you have. Rivian is not only improving its electric vehicles constantly, but it is also improving its charging network, which eventually makes the models better. In June 2022, Rivian announced the first deployments in its nationwide Adventure Network. These new sites benefit from “Level 3” DC fast charging, and they will initially provide over 200 kilowatts of power, but 300+ kW will be added in the future. This means that charging the R1T or the R1S up to 80 percent takes only 27 minutes, or you can add 140 miles in just 20 minutes. At home, using a Rivian Wall Charger will add 25 miles of range for each hour of charging.
8 Tesla Model S Long Range - 250 kW, 27 minutes
The Tesla Model S Long Range is one of the most efficient EVs on the market with a range of 405 miles, so you will have to recharge a lot less than with other models. When you have to do it, using Tesla's Supercharging systems and a 250 kW charger, it will only take 27 minutes to take the battery up to 80 percent. Or, if you don't want to wait that long, you can add as much as 200 miles in just 15 minutes. Each Tesla model can be charged using a wall socket charger, but it will only add 3 miles per hour. You can also opt for a NEMA 14-50 Home adapter or a special wall connector that will give you 30 miles per hour of charging.
9 Mercedes-Benz EQA, EQB, EQC - 100 kW, 30 minutes
Announced in early 2021, the Mercedes-Benz EQA has been improved just one year later with the addition of a new 71 kWh battery that has a range of 335 miles. The EQA doesn't only offer a good range, but it can also be charged fast. Just like the other two compact electric SUVs from Mercedes, the EQB and the EQC, the EQA can be charged using a fast-charging system and a 150-kW charger. It will only take 30 minutes to take the battery from 10 to 80 percent. As standard, the EQA is fitted with an 11-kW on-board charger for Type 2 AC charging, in which case you will need 7 hours and 15 minutes to recharge the battery.
10 BMW i4 - 205 kW, 31 minutes
With a range of up to 367 miles for the i4 eDrive40 model, the BMW i4 is one of the newest threats to Tesla. In true BMW spirit, the i4 offers a sporty exterior look, lightweight construction, and most importantly, an 83.9 kWh high-voltage battery. It can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 31 minutes with up to 205 kW of charging power. This will give you up to 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. The i4 can also be charged at home using the BMW Wallbox and an 11 kW charger, but you will need about 8.25 hours for a full charge. Using this charger, you will add 62 miles of range in one hour and 23 minutes.