The sub-ten minute public charging milestone is here, with rapid developments in EV architecture meaning that some of the fastest charging electric cars of 2026 can add hundreds of miles worth of range in under ten minutes. With EVs from brands such as BYD with its megawatt Flash Charging technology leading the way, the time it takes to charge up can now often be compared to the time taken to fill up a traditional combustion engine car. These are some of the fastest charging electric cars on the market in 2026:
EV charging speeds continue to rise in 2026
In previous years, only drivers of much more expensive EVs were able to take full advantage of the maximum speeds of ultra-rapid charging infrastructure. In 2026, it still remains the case that a significant proportion of the fastest charging EVs are expensive models, but the tide is starting to change, with more affordable models from brands such as BYD and MG now offering such speeds in their more affordable models. It’ll still be at least a few more years until we see these sort of speeds in the cheapest electric cars on the market, however.
Mercedes-AMG GT SUV
This freshly revealed EV is AMG’s first SUV to be developed fully in-house, and as a flagship model, it’s got the charging speed to match. It supports DC charging at speeds of up to 710kW, enough for a 10-80% charge in under 12 minutes despite its high battery capacity.
For now though, and particularly in Europe, you’ll be hard pressed to find a public charger capable of delivering 700kW to take full advantage of this EV’s rapid recharging capability.
MG IM5
A new addition to our list in 2026, the MG IM5 offers one of the best price-to-charging-speed ratio of any EV on the market. When specified with the 100kW battery option, the IM5 utilises an 800-volt architecture, allowing a peak charging speed of 396kW. And the best part? This 400kW charging EV can be yours for just £44,995 (equivalent to $60,300 USD).
With a growing number of 400kW chargers appearing on public charging networks across the globe, the MG IM5 feels like the perfect choice to take full advantage of public charging speeds in 2026.
BYD Atto 8
Another recent addition, BYD’s new seven-seat electric SUV supports the firm’s revolutionary Flash Charging technology, allowing this EV to charge at speeds well north of 1,000kW. That translates to a five minute 10-70% recharge time on one of BYD’s Flash Chargers, far exceeding the recharge speeds of other large electric SUVs like the Volvo EX90 or Kia EV9.
BMW iX3
The BMW iX3 is one of the first BMWs to be built on its next-generation Neue Klasse platform (alongside the i3 saloon), and with an 800-volt architecture it brings the fastest charging speeds seen in a BMW EV yet – 400kW to be precise, allowing for a 10-80% top-up in around 21 minutes if you can find a 400kW-capable public charger.
BYD DENZA Z
BYD’s electric supercar might have a whopping 1,528 horsepower at its disposal, but it also impresses when it comes to charging speed, with the second-generation Blade battery also being compatible with BYD Flash Charging, offering megawatt speeds on one of BYD’s own chargers – just like the Atto 8 above.
XPENG G6
When in Long Range or AWD Performance specification, the updated XPENG G6 can achieve a peak DC charging speed of 451kW, making it one of the fastest charging EVs on the market whilst still remaining relatively affordable compared to some of the other models on this list. The 80.8kWh LFP battery used in these two trim levels operates on an 800-volt architecture, allowing a 10-80% top-up in as little as 12 minutes on a suitably powerful charger.
Lotus Emeya
The Lotus Emeya is one of the fastest charging electric cars on the market. Officially, Lotus claims a maximum charging speed for the Emeya of 420kW – which by itself is already impressive. However, in 2025, the Lotus Emeya was tested out at a 450kW EV charger at a Lotus dealer in Kuwait, reaching a maximum charging speed of 443kW.
The fact that this record was achieved in Kuwait, under hot temperatures, proves that ultra-rapid charging can remain reliable even in extreme weather conditions. At this rate, the Emeya could go from a 10% to 80% state of charge in only 13 minutes and 35 seconds.
