- Rapid improvements in EV battery technology have led to some of the fastest charging electric cars on the market, capable of delivering a hundreds of kilometres worth of range in record time.
- With ultra-rapid charging previously being the reserve of the most expensive EVs, these faster charging speeds have now found their way into even some of the cheapest electric cars.
- These are the fastest charging electric cars available right now, along with a look at what’s on the horizon for EV charging and batteries.
The fastest charging electric cars on sale right now
In the not so distant past, some of the fastest-charging EVs exceeded the speeds of much of the public charging infrastructure surrounding them – making it harder for owners to take full advantage of their vehicles’ ultra-rapid charging capabilities. However, CPOs such as Fastned are helping change that, helping to drive ultra-rapid infrastructure with public charging speeds of up to 400kW now on offer to the public.
BYD Han L
BYD’s new all-electric saloon, the Han L, remains exclusive to China for now. Its new ‘Flash Charging Battery’ will allow it to take full advantage of BYD’s new record-breaking 1,000kW public charging stations, which themselves are set to pop up rapidly across China in the coming years. With this combination, the Han L can add 400 kilometres of range in just five minutes, bringing down the time it takes to charge an EV down to the equivalent time it takes to fill up an ICE car.
Lotus Emeya
Lotus’ all-electric grand tourer, the Emeya, last year achieved a record-breaking rapid charging attempt for a production car. Validated in P3 Group’s annual charging index, the Emeya reached a peak charging power of 402kW, along with an average charging speed of 331kW throughout the test. This can allow the Emeya to add 310km of range in as little as 10 minutes.
Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT
The platform-sharing Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT duo are some of the fastest-charging EVs on the market, with the latest mid-life update allowing for a maximum charging speed of 320kW, up 50kW from the pre-facelift examples of both models. At this ideal maximum speed, both models are capable of boosting battery charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.
What comes next?
When it comes to EV R&D and prototypes, we’re already seeing even faster recharging speeds. UK battery manufacturer Nyobolt has tested a battery capable of charging from 0-80% in under five minutes, and is hoping to supply its fast-charging battery tech to both OEMs producing brand new EVs, and to electric retrofitting firms.
China’s CATL also hopes to beat BYD’s 1,000kW charging record, unveiling its latest generation of Shenxing battery cells. Set to be fitted in over 60 electric car models by the end of the year, these cells will allow a typical EV to charge from 0-80% charge in 15 minutes.
If we look at firms such as CATL and NIO, battery charging speeds won’t be the only metric of convenience for future EVs. These two firms are pinning big hopes on battery swaps also becoming a key part of future EV charging infrastructure, further reducing the time spent off the road.
Even with these ever-reducing charging times, awards for the best EV charging hubs in the world prove that you might still be content with taking on a slower charge and making use of the on-site facilities instead…
