Electric cars that can charge in under 20 minutes: The 11 EVs with the fastest charging times
With many new electric cars launching with ranges in excess of 300 miles, range anxiety is gradually dying out.
But instead, drivers are becoming increasingly focused on how long it takes for EVs to charge, especially when making a stop en route to a destination.
Will the battery be the topped up to near-full if you plug in for a rapid charge while you stretch your legs at a service station?
We’ve rounded up the top 11 EVs that will give you maximum range in the minimum number of minutes, so you know which are the fastest charging EVs you can buy today.
11. Polestar 4 – from GBP59,990
Charging speed: 200kW
10-80% charge time: 30 minutes
The Polestar 4 – a coupe SUV with no rear window – makes Polestar a three-car brand from now on and can rapid charge up tp 200kW
Kicking off the top 11 fastest charging EVs in the UK is a Scandinavian entrant: the Polestar 4 can charge up to 200kW on a rapid charger.
This means that you’ll get 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
With a 100kWh battery, the Polestar 4 offers 385 miles of range for the Long range Single motor and 367 miles for the Long range Dual motor.
After 30 minutes of charging you can drive off with 308 miles or 292 miles of range respectively.
10. Kia EV9 – from GBP65,025
Charging speed: 210kW
10-80% charge time: 24 minutes
Flagship: The EV9 family SUV aims to compete against Range Rover models
The EVs with the longest ranges REVEALED
Tenth on the list of ultra-rapid EVs is a hulking seven-seater: the Kia EV9.[1]
The EV9 charges up to 210kW and can top up 10 to 80 per cent in only 24 minutes.
15 minutes of charging at this speed will give you around 154 miles of charge for the RWD EV9, and just over 140 miles for the AWD version.
The EV9 has an estimated range of up to 349 miles.
For a large family SUV that weights over 3 tonnes, and has a 99.8kWh battery, that’s a pretty quick motorway service charging stop for a long journey.
9.
Kia EV6 (and EV6 GT) – from GBP45,275
Charging speed: 235kW
10-80% charge time: 20 minutes
The EV6 beats its bigger sibling, the EV9, charging from 10 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes
Kia’s second entry into the top 11 fastest charging cars follows in direct succession, with the EV6 landing at number nine.
The EV6[2] beats its bigger sibling, charging from 10 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes.
EV6 (both RWD, AWD and the GT) can charge up to 235kW speeds. The maximum range is an estimated 328 miles.
Some 62 miles of charge can be added in just over four minutes.
8. Polestar 3 – from GBP69,900
Charging speed: 250kW
10-80% charge time: 30 minutes
The Polestar 3 is a luxury SUV EV from the Swedish racing-inspired brand, and is only the second car Polestar has made
There’s a host of new EVs that can all charge at 250kW, which shows that this is to become an average rapid charging bar to live up to.
Polestar 3 charging is impressively fast across the board, with all cars charging up to 250kW. That gives you 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
Polestar cars have some of the longest ranges of all new EVs, with charging speeds to match long distance driving needs.
The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor can deliver 403 miles of range, while the Long Range Dual Motor alternative[3] is only just behind offering 392 miles on a single charge.
Even the Polestar 3 Long range Dual motor with Performance pack gives you an impressive 348 miles.
7.
Tesla Model 3 – from GBP39,990
Charging speed: 250kW
10-80% charge time: 27 minutes
This is the facelifted version of Tesla’s Model 3, which is now available in the UK with prices from GBP39,990.
The Long-Range version costs GBP49,990
FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL did a 1,000 mile road trip in the new Tesla Model 3 using only green energy – is range anxiety over?
The new 2024 Tesla Model 3[4] makes the list of fastest charging EVs. The Model 3 Long Range can charge up to 250kW.
And for Tesla owners it’s particularly easy because the recently updated Supercharger network offers 250kW speeds.
The Long Range can add 175 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
10 to 80 per cent takes 27 minutes.
The Performance can also charge up to 250kW and can add 145 miles in 15 minutes (it has the biggest battery).
The RWD version can only charge up to speeds of 170kW, but you can also get 175 miles in just 15 minutes, as it had the smallest battery of the three versions.
10 to 80 per cent takes 25 minutes.
6. Tesla Model Y – from GBP44,990
Charging speed: 250kW
10-80% charge time: 27 minutes
The Tesla Model Y was the fifth most popular new model with 35,899 registrations, outperformed by the Kia Sportage (36,135), Vauxhall Corsa (40,816), Nissan Qashqai (42,321) and Britain’s best-seller, the Ford Puma with 49,591 registrations
One Tesla followed by another.
The Model Y[5] can, like the Model 3, charge at 250kW speeds if you get the Performance or the Long Range AWD versions.
Both add 150 miles of charge in a quarter of an hour.
The RWD version though can only charge up to 170kW.
But it can still add 150 miles in just 15 minutes.
Charging from 10 to 80 per cent when charging at 250kW takes 27 minutes.
The Long Range model has an estimated range of 331 miles.
5. Porsche Macan – from GBP69,800
Charging speed: 270kW
10-80% charge time: 21 minutes
Porsche’s first electric SUV: The German sports car maker has unveiled its new Macan, which is exclusively battery powered, as part of its transition away from combustion engines
The Porsche Macan is now all-electric, with all new models zero emissions only.[6]
And the new model is the fifth fastest charging EV on the market today.
With max charging capped at 270kW, the Macan can go from 10 to 80 per cent charged in 21 minutes.
So, this electric SUV can top up its battery to get you on the road with refreshed range fast.
4. Maserati GranTurismo Folgore – from GBP133,000
Charging speed: 270kW
10-80% charge time: 19 minutes
10 to 80 per cent charge can be achieved in 19 minutes. And for longer distance driving the GranTurismo Folgore can manage 284 miles on a single charge
A shiny Italian luxury sports car takes fourth spot on the list, thanks to its 270kW charging capability.
If you want to drive fast without any range or charge anxiety, then the fact that the GranTurismo Folgore can deliver 62 miles of charge in only five minutes ought to set minds at rest.
Replenishing from 10 to 80 per cent charge can be achieved in 19 minutes.
And for long distance driving the GranTurismo Folgore can manage 284 miles on a single charge.
3.
Porsche Taycan – from GBP86,500
Charging speed: 320kW
10-80% charge time: 18 minutes
The new 2025 Taycan offers some of the fastest charging in the EV world, capable of charging up to 320kW, putting it in third place
The new 2025 Taycan offers some of the fastest charging in the EV world, capable of charging up to 320kW.
Improving on the old Taycan, this means you can get from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 18 minutes.[7]
The Sports Turismo and Cross Turismo are equally capable.
The 50kW improvement on the old model’s charging speed is thanks to the new Taycan now using 800-volt architecture found on other high tech models such as the Kia EV9 and EV6.
2. Audi e-tron GT- from GBP108,680
Charging speed: 320kW
10-80% charge time: 18 minutes
The new S e-tron GT is coming soon , and it will be able to charge up to 320kW, putting it right behind the Lotus Eletre – it takes home the silver
Audi is no longer building Audi e-tron GT quattro cars.
But the new S e-tron GT is coming soon, and it will be able to charge up to 320kW, putting it right behind the fastest-charging EV of all.
The joint second-place achiever can hit 10 to 80 per cent charged in as little as 18 minutes, as can its follow RS e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT Performance models.
The new S e-tron GT will have a huge range of 373 to 375 miles too.
It’ll cost from GBP108,60 though, so not for every driver.
1. Lotus Eletre – from GBP89,500
Charging speed: 350kW
10-80% charge time: 20 minutes
We had the Lotus Eletre – Lotus’ GBP104,500 hyper-SUV EV – in for a week of driving. Lucky owners of the Lotus Eletre can hook up to a 350kW charger and get 10 to 80 charge in just 20 minutes
The Lotus Eletre hyper SUV takes first place.
It’s one of the only EVs to be compatible with 350kW charging.[8]
Many chargers are ready to deliver these speeds, but few EVs are currently compatible for charging at these hyperfast speeds.
But lucky owners of the Lotus Eletre can hook up to a 350kW charger and get 10 to 80 charge in just 20 minutes.
Adding 74 miles of range takes a mere five minutes for this SUV which does 0 to 62 in 2.9 seconds.
Why 10 to 80 per cent charging?
If you’re driving a long distance, it’s more effective to plug into a rapid or ultra-rapid charger and charge to 80 per cent, rather than 100.
The last 20 per cent of a battery’s capacity charges at a slower rate, which will extend the charging time.
To save time, it’s more effective to charge the last 20 per cent on a second stop.
References
- ^ the Kia EV9. (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ The EV6 (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor can deliver 403 miles of range, while the Long Range Dual Motor alternative (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ The new 2024 Tesla Model 3 (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ The Model Y (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ The Porsche Macan is now all-electric, with all new models zero emissions only. (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ Improving on the old Taycan, this means you can get from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 18 minutes. (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ The Lotus Eletre hyper SUV takes first place.
It’s one of the only EVs to be compatible with 350kW charging.
(www.thisismoney.co.uk)