EV owners tend to fall into two main categories – the ones lucky enough to have access to a home wall box, and those that rely on public chargers. However, even if you charge overnight at home, there are times when you’ll need to use rapid chargers on longer journeys.
If you have to stop off to recharge your electric vehicle, you’re going to want to get back on the road as soon as possible. So, not only do you need to find a rapid charger (150kW or above), you’ll want one of the fastest-charging electric cars
We’ve chosen 10 of the best below, though the eagle-eyed among you will notice that our list is dominated by Hyundai and its sister brands, Kia and Genesis. This is because many of the EVs in these South Korean brands’ ranges are fitted with an 800-volt charging system which is capable of recharging from 10 to 80% at a 350kW DC station in as little as 18 minutes. Most other electric cars are fitted with 400V technology.
And if you’re wondering where you can find a 350kW charger. Well, they are few and far between, but companies such as Gridserve and Ionity are already offering ultra-rapid connections. It’s also worth noting that some EVs with modest ranges and small batteries, ideally suited to the city, can be charged up relatively quickly too.
For instance, the Mazda MX-30 may only have a 35.5kWh battery and claimed 124-mile range, but it can be topped up from 20% – 80% in just 25 minutes using a 50kW charger.
Finally, there are various other factors that can impact how long it takes to fully charge an EV, such as ambient temperature, your battery’s age and degradation level, driving style and whether you have pre-conditioned the battery (bringing it to the right temperature) before you reach a DC station.
The following are some of the fastest-charging electric vehicles. Unless otherwise stated, the times relate to a 10-80% charge…
