Let's Talk About EV Charging and Range
There are more all-electric vehicles on the market today than ever before and more are coming soon. One thing that consumers want to know is how many miles they can get on a charge and which electric cars charge the fastest. The number of miles you can get on a charge has to do with how many electric motors the vehicle has and how large the battery pack is. Automakers are able to get very reliable numbers for how many miles an EV will average on a charge. But what about charging times?
Different Levels of Charging
DC Fast Chargers are becoming more plentiful from coast to coast with EV charging stations popping up around shopping malls and office buildings. Plus, the average EV owner has discovered that they don’t generally drive that many miles per day and charging up overnight at home. This has had the effect of reducing “range anxiety” quite a bit. But for this look at the fastest charging EVs, let’s take a look at the various levels of charging available today.
Level 1 Charging
All electric cars sold today come with a Level 1 charger. This plugs into any standard 110-volt electrical outlet in your home. You come home, plug in your car and let it charge overnight. This method will charge roughly five miles per hour of charging. It’s slow but does the trick while you’re sleeping.
Level 2 Charging
A Level 2 charger uses a 240-volt setup and can charge your EV 25 miles per hour. If you have a washer/dryer in your house or garage, it uses a 240-volt outlet. Many EV owners have an electrician come out and install a 240-volt outlet in the garage next to their electric car so they can enjoy faster charging times.
Level 3 Charging (DC Fast Charging)
DC Fast Charging is primarily used when you are on a road trip and need to recharge your car in about the time it would take you to stop for a coffee or lunch. You’ll find these chargers at Tesla’s Supercharger Stations or Electrify America’s universal charging stations. While Level 1 and 2 uses AC current, Level 3 uses DC direct current and can charge your EV at a rate of 20 miles of ranger per minute.
Why Charge Times Vary Between Electric Cars
Electric cars don’t charge at a constant rate. They generally charge more quickly when first plugged in and then slow down the rate of charge as they fill. Charging time also depends on the size of the battery pack in your vehicle. Often you will find that different trim levels of EVs offer different size batteries. Bigger battery packs have more capacity and can be on the road more miles between charges.
While the EPA can verify fuel economy figures for gasoline powered cars, charging times involve facts from vehicle manufacturers and these can vary. On average, automakers suggest how much time it will take to charge a vehicle from 10 to 80 percent of charge using DC Fast Charging.
Fastest Charging Electric Vehicles
With all this in mind, GreenCars has taken a look at vehicles that are currently on the market that have been tested for accuracy of charge times, based on today’s technology. What follows is a ranking of the current fastest-charging EVs based on their maximum kW ratings on a Level 3 DC Fast Charger.
Note that maximum kW during a charging session can be limited either by the vehicle or the charger and is governed by the lowest of the two. For instance, if you have an EV capable of charging at 350 kW, but plug into a charger that delivers a maximum of 200 kW, it won’t charge faster than 200 kW. Conversely, if you have an EV capable of charging at 150 kW, a 350 kW charger can only deliver 150 kW to it.
GMC Hummer EV/GMC Sierra EV
Built on General Motors’ sophisticated Ultium battery-electric platform, the massive GMC Hummer EV and equally massive Sierra EV pickup trucks are capable of charging at a whopping 350 kW. However, both of these vehicles have batteries larger than 200 kW, meaning that charging times won’t actually be shorter than some other vehicles. Also, neither GMC is particularly efficient, so it’s good they charge as fast as they do.
Porsche Taycan/Audi e-tron GT
Both the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT sports sedans received a number of upgrades for the 2025 model year, with enhanced styling, increased feature content, and more horsepower. But most notable was an increase in charging speed up to a 320 kW maximum.
Lucid Air/Lucid Gravity
The sleek Lucid Air sedan remains a range and efficiency champion among EVs, and is rated by the EPA in some trims to go an estimated 500 or more miles on a charge. An added bonus is that the Lucid Air charges really fast, too, reaching a peak charging speed of up to 300 kW. The all-new Lucid Gravity SUV features the same battery technology and charging speed in a taller, more versatile body style that sacrifices a little bit of efficiency for a lot more space.
Porsche Macan EV
Are we surprised that Porsche, which makes fast cars, also makes very fast-charging cars? Of course not. The new electric Macan SUV offers a wide range of models with different power outputs in a gorgeous, versatile package. All models also charge at up to 270 kW, making them convenient to drive on long trips.
Tesla Model 3, Model X, Model S, Model Y, Cybertruck
Tesla is arguably the inventor of fast charging – having introduced its Supercharging network to support its first EV, the Model S, and continually upgrading it ever since. All Tesla models offer up to 250 kW of fast-charging capability, while also being very efficient for their size and capability. More and more manufacturers are adopting the Tesla-style charging port for 2025 and newer model year vehicles, providing access to Superchargers and improving convenience for all.
Volvo EX90
The electric cousin of the popular Volvo XC90 SUV, the all-new EX90 was designed from the ground up as an EV, and offers three rows of seats, excellent performance, and ultra-sophisticated driver assistance technology. It also charges very fast, reaching a peak of 250 kW for its big battery.
Genesis GV80 Electrified, GV70 Electrified, GV60
Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, offers three electric models. The large GV80 Electrified and mid-size GV70 Electrified are adaptations of gasoline models, while the more urban-friendly GV60 comes only as an EV. All three models share a sophisticated 800-volt architecture that lets them charge at a speedy 240 kW.
Hyundai Ioniq 6, Ioniq 5
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is one of the most popular EVs in North America, and it’s not difficult to understand why. It offers great looks, a spacious interior, lots of high-tech features and impressive efficiency and range for a reasonable price. Despite being priced in the mainstream, it remains one of the fastest-charging EVs you can buy, reaching a peak of 235 kW on a compatible charger. If you want something sleeker, more interesting, and that goes even further, the streamlined Ioniq 6 sedan offers similar charging speed and even more range.
Kia EV6, EV9
Sharing their 800-volt electrical architecture and key componentry with the Hyundai Ioniq models, Kia’s EV6 and EV9 offer very different looks and packaging. The EV6 is a sleek, sporty crossover, while the EV9 is one of the only electric SUVs you can buy with three rows of seats. The EV9 in particular offers a massive, and massively flexible, interior, making it a standout EV. It, like the EV6, offers charging speeds of up to 235 kW.
Rivian R1T, R1S
Recently upgraded for the 2025 model year, the Rivian R1T and R1S are gorgeous, ground-up EV designs from the successful U.S.-based startup. They offer amazing flexibility, spacious interiors, and loads of unique design touches. Long range means that they make great road trip and adventure vehicles, and when you do need to fast-charge, they’re capable of doing so at a rapid 220 kW.
For a closer look at these electric cars and more, visit our GreenCars Buyer's Guide.
