While max speeds and horsepower are still some of the most important considerations for purchase when eyeing electric cars, another factor that buyers weigh in on is charging time.
Charging time is extremely important for EV drivers given that the time to reach full charge isn’t as fast as refueling at the pump.
So which vehicles have the fastest charging times to date?
As of writing, it takes the Lucid Air Pure approximately 17 minutes to charge to 200 miles, which is arguably one of the fastest charging times for electric vehicles. On average, the Air Pure is known to charge at 16 miles per minute.
The luxury EV’s fast charging capability paired with its 900V+ architecture can easily ramp up a 20% battery life to 80% in as fast as 15 minutes, provided that the vehicle uses a 350 kW charger.
The Lucid Air Pure is a rear-wheel drive five-seater sedan that can go from 0 to 60 mph in as fast as 4.5 seconds, which is one of the best times for luxury electric vehicles.
The Air Pure has an EPA-estimated range of up to 420 miles. It can reach a top speed of 124 mph and max out at 430 hp.
The Lucid Air Pure might appear to be in a league of its own given the electric vehicle’s fast charging capabilities, but a handful of EVs aren’t too far behind regarding this feat.
Here are some of the fastest-charging EVs on the market today:
Using a 350 kW charger, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can get its battery life from 10% to 80% in under 18 minutes.
The Ioniq 5 is known to feature the world’s first patented multi-charging system that supports both 400V and 800V DC charging. For the Ioniq 5 to reach full charge, you can expect to wait anywhere between six and eight hours.
The Ioniq 5 is regarded as Hyundai’s multi-awarded electric SUV. The model offers up to 303 miles of range. Using an 800V DC ultra-fast charger, you can easily get 68 miles of range in as fast as five minutes.
In terms of performance, the electric SUV’s all-wheel drive variant can max out at 320 hp. Meanwhile, the rear-wheel drive version can churn out up to 225 hp.
Using a DC fast charger, it’ll take about 18 minutes for a Kia EV6’s battery to go from 10% to 80%一that’s approximately 14.5 miles of charge per minute.
The Kia EV6 can fully recharge in about seven hours using a Level 2 charger. This EV also has an EPA-estimated all-electric range of up to 310 miles.
While the EV6’s base trim is already capable enough on its own, top-of-the-line trims like the GT AWD take EV driving to a whole new level.
Boasting a maximum of 576 hp, the EV6 can complete a 0 to 60 mph sprint in as fast as 3.4 seconds.
Similar to the Ioniq 5 and EV6, the Genesis Electrified GV70 can also power up from 10% to 80% within 18 minutes.
Using a fast charger, it’ll only take 15 minutes to add approximately 123 miles of range.
The GV70 comes in two available trims一electrified advanced AWD and electrified prestige AWD. Both have a maximum horsepower of 429 hp and an EPA-estimated range of 236 miles.
The Porsche Taycan might not be as fast as the other models when it comes to charging, but the model’s capabilities are impeccable nonetheless.
The Taycan takes about 22.5 minutes to go from 5% to 80% with a 270 kW charger. The model is also compatible with regular 400V charging stations with an onboard DC charger with 50 or 150 kW.
The Taycan has an estimated range of 325 miles. It can easily go from a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.2 seconds and boasts a maximum of 429 horsepower for its base model.
It takes approximately 23 minutes for the Audi e-Tron GT to go from 5% to 80%, adding about 180 miles of extra range when plugged into a 270 kW DC fast charger.
In terms of overall range, the e-Tron GT has an EPA-estimated 238 miles of range. The GT can generate up to 522 horsepower while the RS version can go up to 637 hp.
There are various types of chargers designed for electric cars. These include Level 1, Level 2, and DC chargers.
A Level 1 charger is the most basic type of EV charger, and every electric car comes with it. The charger features a 120V standard wall outlet that can add up to five miles of range per hour.
A Level 1 charger is most suitable for overnight charging given its slow charging time. This type is also best for low-mileage daily driving and works well with most plug-in hybrids because of their small batteries.
A Level 2 charger comes in the form of a 240V outlet or dryer plug. Typically installed in public areas like rest stops, restaurants, and shopping centers, a Level 2 charger can add up to 25 miles of range per hour.
Installing a Level 2 charger in a household is optional. In most cases, the task involves hardwiring the charger or plugging it into an existing 240V outlet.
A Level 2 charger is best for quick charging. Leaving an EV with a Level 2 charger overnight can get it to full charge anywhere between eight and 10 hours.
A DC fast charger is the fastest electric car charger available. Depending on the vehicle and charging equipment, a fast charger can provide up to 250 miles of range per hour.
A DC fast charger can bring battery life to 80% in 20 to 30 minutes. This type of charger is ideal for long-distance driving.
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