The discussion about electric vehicles frequently focuses on range, but for road trippers and EV buyers who lack the option to charge at home, understanding how quickly an EV recharges at a DC fast charger is just as crucial.
Automakers present this information in various ways, which can often be unclear. For instance, Hyundai states that the Ioniq 6 can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes.
However, this isn’t particularly helpful to drivers who track their distance in miles rather than battery percentages.
A more practical measurement is determining how many miles of range an EV can gain after charging for intervals of 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes.
These figures provide a clearer sense of how much time you’ll need to wait before getting back on the road.Throughout 2023, we conducted fast-charging tests on 37 different electric vehicles.
Some of these were underwhelming—a Nissan Leaf, for instance, only added 30 miles of range in 15 minutes—but the fastest-charging EVs could add over 150 miles in about the time it takes to use the restroom and grab a quick snack.
Our fast-charging test, paired with our MotorTrend Road-Trip Range test, begins with a vehicle preconditioned with a 5 percent battery charge.
We then connect the car to a DC fast charger capable of supplying as much power as the vehicle can accept and start a stopwatch that runs until the battery is fully charged.
The range added at every 15-minute interval is calculated based on the vehicle’s efficiency at a constant 70 mph. With this method, here are the fastest-charging electric vehicles that MotorTrend tested in 2023.
10. 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60
The 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 is the all-electric version of the opulent BMW 7 Series, landing on this list due to its ability to add 120 miles of range in just 15 minutes of DC fast charging.
While this represents only 41 percent of its MotorTrend Road-Trip Range of 292 miles—primarily due to its 101.7-kWh battery pack and a maximum charging rate of 195 kW—it remains a highly impressive electric vehicle.
Despite its heavy design, the i7 xDrive60 can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in only 4.3 seconds.
9. 2022 BMW iX xDrive50
The 2022 BMW iX xDrive50’s impressive speed isn’t limited to its looks; its charging ability is equally remarkable. During testing, the BMW iX added 122 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
If you extend the charging time to 73 minutes, you can reach 100 percent, giving it a MotorTrend Road-Trip Range of 312 miles—sufficient to travel from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with plenty of power left over to explore Sin City’s innovative Sphere venue.
This performance is supported by the 105-kWh battery pack, bringing it very close to the EPA’s combined range rating of 315 miles.
8. 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70
The Genesis Electrified GV70 is an electric version of the popular gas-powered Genesis GV70 compact SUV, which won the MotorTrend 2022 SUV of the Year award.
While EVs built on internal combustion vehicle platforms often have compromises, the Electrified GV70 excels in the speed of its DC fast-charging capabilities.
With a nearly drained battery and access to a 350-kW DC fast charger, this luxury EV can add 123 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
7. 2022 Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor
It should come as no surprise that the Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor has one of the highest maximum charging rates on this list at 250 kW, ranking as the second-fastest.
Tesla has had over a decade of time to refine its EV technology, and that experience is evident in its superior charging system.
Although the Model 3 is ranked seventh on this list, the Tesla charging experience stands out subjectively as the best among the group—and by a considerable margin.
The combination of Tesla’s large and reliable Supercharger network ensures that adding 130 miles of range in just 15 minutes is a consistent and seamless experience.
6. 2023 Lucid Air Touring
Just surpassing the Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor by a few miles is the 2023 Lucid Air Touring, which added 132 miles of range after just 15 minutes of charging from a 350-kW fast charger.
If you leave the Lucid Air Touring plugged in for a full hour, you’ll return to a fully charged vehicle with 261 miles of range—just enough to take you from New York City to Washington, D.C.
The Air Touring is a mid-grade trim within the Lucid Air lineup, and it arguably stands out as the most appealing option due to its combination of performance, affordability, and fast-charging capabilities.
5. 2024 Lucid Air Pure RWD and 2023 Lucid Air Pure AWD
The Lucid Air Pure is the entry-level model within the luxury electric sedan’s lineup and is available in two configurations: Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD).
One major distinction between the Lucid Air Pure and other trims, like the Air Touring, is its smaller 88-kWh battery pack compared to the 92 kWh used in the higher trims.
Despite this, the base Lucid Air Pure delivers impressive fast-charging performance, with the RWD configuration adding 149 miles of range after 15 minutes of charging and the AWD configuration adding a close 150 miles.
The Lucid Air Pure combines style, advanced technology, and performance in a luxury electric package starting at approximately $80,000.
In RWD form, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds, proving that even the base model is an eye-catching and fast option.
4. 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited Long Range AWD
Hyundai is here to demonstrate that you don’t have to spend $80,000 to own an electric sedan with excellent acceleration and impressive charging performance.
The 2023 Ioniq 6 Limited Long Range AWD, priced at $50,150, has a 0-60-mph time of 4.4 seconds and boasts the ability to add 152 miles of range in just 15 minutes of charging. That accounts for 66 percent of its total 229-mile MotorTrend Road-Trip Range.
While we usually advise against charging to 100 percent at a fast charger—since the final 20 percent can take significantly longer—the Ioniq 6 bucks that trend with a full charge taking only 47 minutes.
That’s often faster than taking a quick bite to eat on the road.
Given that the boxier Ioniq 5 earned MotorTrend’s 2023 SUV of the Year award, the Ioniq 6 builds on that success with better efficiency thanks to its sleek, low sedan design, leading to improved range and fast-charging capabilities.
3. 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance
The 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance sits at the top of the Lucid Air lineup, above the Air Touring and Air Pure.
It is equipped with a massive 112-kWh battery pack and dual-motor configurations, producing an astounding 1,050 horsepower and achieving a 0-60-mph time of just 2.7 seconds.
Additionally, it boasts the highest max charging rate on this list at 300 kW, although speeds as high as 314 kW have been recorded.
Our testing found that this EV could add 162 miles of range after just 15 minutes of charging and achieved a substantial MotorTrend Road-Trip Range of 330 miles.
Of course, achieving these figures requires a fully operational and reliable charging station—a feature that non-Tesla providers still struggle to maintain consistently.
2. 2022 Kia EV6 Wind AWD
Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the 2022 Kia EV6 Wind AWD, is proving to be a well-thought-out entry into the electric car market.
With its attractive design, technological features, and efficient 800-volt architecture, this EV ensures shorter wait times at DC fast chargers. After just 15 minutes of charging on a 350-kW fast charger, the EV6 is ready to travel with 164 miles of range.
Reaching a full charge and its MotorTrend Road-Trip Range of 260 miles takes just 44 minutes.
This fast-charging performance, combined with its reasonable price of $55,500 (for the test car), positions the EV6 as one of the most practical and affordable EVs for road trips.
1. 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE Long Range RWD
Topping our list of fast-charging electric vehicles by a significant margin is the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE Long Range RWD.
As noted in our First Test review, the Ioniq 6 “ends Tesla’s monopoly on reasonably priced electric sedans and beats the Model 3 at its own game” thanks to its ability to add 193 miles of range in just 15 minutes of charging.
This number jumps to an impressive 291 miles after just 48 minutes of charging.
Next year, Hyundai is expected to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard plug, allowing the Ioniq 6 to utilize Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network.
This change will only make the Ioniq 6 an even more attractive alternative to the Tesla Model 3.
These EVs demonstrate that fast-charging technology is advancing, offering drivers the ability to recharge their vehicles quickly and get back on the road with minimal wait times.
Whether you’re on a cross-country trip or just making a quick stop, these numbers provide confidence that you can power up in time to continue your journey.