As more electric vehicles (EVs) are released with ranges exceeding 300 miles, the issue of range anxiety is becoming less of a concern. However, drivers are now focusing more on the time it takes to charge an EV, especially during stops along the way to their destinations.
Will a quick stop at a service station for a rapid charge top up the battery to nearly full while you take a break? To help you choose the fastest charging EVs, we’ve compiled a list of the top 11 models that offer maximum range with minimal charging time.
11. Polestar 4 – from £59,990
- Charging speed: 200kW
- 10-80% charge: 30 minutes
- Range: up to 385 miles
Starting the list is the Polestar 4, a Scandinavian SUV that features a unique coupe design with no rear window. This model can charge at a rate of up to 200kW on a rapid charger, allowing it to reach 10 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.
With a 100kWh battery, the Long Range Single Motor version offers up to 385 miles of range, while the Long Range Dual Motor version provides 367 miles. After 30 minutes of charging, you can expect around 308 miles of range from the Single Motor or 292 miles from the Dual Motor version.
10. Kia EV9 – from £65,025
- Charging speed: 210kW
- 10-80% charge: 24 minutes
- Range: up to 349 miles
The Kia EV9, a seven-seater family SUV, comes in tenth place. It can charge up to 210kW, providing a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 24 minutes.
In 15 minutes of charging, you can gain about 154 miles of range in the RWD version, and just over 140 miles in the AWD version. With a 99.8kWh battery, the EV9 has an estimated range of up to 349 miles, making it an excellent option for long journeys.
9. Kia EV6 (and EV6 GT) – from £45,275
- Charging speed: 235kW
- 10-80% charge: 20 minutes
- Range: up to 328 miles
Kia’s EV6, ranked ninth, charges even faster than the EV9, reaching 10 to 80 percent in just 20 minutes. The EV6 can charge at speeds up to 235kW, and offers a range of up to 328 miles.
In just over four minutes, you can add about 62 miles of range to the battery, making it a great option for quick recharges.
In its more affordable RWD version, the Kia EV6 features a single 225bhp motor driving the rear wheels. This setup delivers respectable performance, reaching 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds. While faster than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, it’s still outpaced by the Nissan Ariya and the remarkably swift Tesla Model Y RWD.
However, the EV6 excels in range, with the new 84kWh battery extending its official range to 361 miles, up from the previous 328 miles.
The more expensive AWD dual-motor EV6 incorporates an additional electric motor for the front wheels, boosting total power to 320bhp and reducing the 0-62mph time to 5.3 seconds, making it a closer competitor to the Model Y Long Range.
Although the AWD’s range is slightly less than the RWD version, it still offers a competitive 339 miles (or 324 miles for GT-Line S models with larger alloy wheels), standing strong against its rivals, though not quite matching the Model Y’s 373-mile range.
8. Polestar 3 – from £69,900
- Charging speed: 250kW
- 10-80% charge: 30 minutes
- Range: up to 403 miles
The Polestar 3, a luxury SUV from the Swedish brand, charges at an impressive 250kW, offering 10 to 80 percent charge in 30 minutes. This model is part of a growing trend of EVs that can charge at 250kW speeds.
The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor offers an impressive 403 miles of range, while the Long Range Dual Motor provides 392 miles. Even the Long Range Dual Motor with Performance pack delivers a solid 348 miles of range, making it one of the top contenders for long-distance travel.
7. Tesla Model 3 – from £39,990
- Charging speed: 250kW
- 10-80% charge: 27 minutes
- Range: up to 421 miles
The updated version of Tesla’s Model 3 is now available in the UK, starting at £39,990, with the Long-Range variant priced at £49,990. The 2024 Tesla Model 3 is among the fastest-charging EVs, with the Long Range version capable of charging up to 250kW.
Thanks to the newly enhanced Supercharger network, Tesla owners can enjoy fast charging speeds of up to 250kW. In just 15 minutes, the Long Range model can add 175 miles of range, and it takes 27 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent.
The Performance variant also supports charging at up to 250kW, adding 145 miles of range in just 15 minutes, thanks to its larger battery.
The RWD version, which has the smallest battery, can charge at a maximum rate of 170kW but still provides 175 miles of range in just 15 minutes, with a 10 to 80 percent charge taking only 25 minutes.
6. Tesla Model Y – from £44,990
- Charging speed: 250kW
- 10-80% charge: 27 minutes
- Range: up to 351 miles
The Tesla Model Y, another popular model in the Tesla lineup, shares similar charging capabilities with the Model 3. The Performance and Long Range AWD versions can charge at up to 250kW, adding 150 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
The RWD version charges at 170kW but still adds 150 miles in 15 minutes. When charging at 250kW, it takes 27 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent. The Long Range version has an estimated range of 351 miles.
The Model Y lineup begins with the Standard Range rear-wheel drive trim, which is the cost-effective option and features rear-wheel drive.
The Long Range and Performance models of the Model Y are more enticing, as they come with dual motors that offer higher combined horsepower and all-wheel drive.
Thanks to a generous Car and Driver reader, we tested an all-wheel-drive Long Range model, which accelerated to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, only 0.4 seconds slower than our long-term Model 3 sedan. The Performance model achieved an even quicker 3.6-second sprint to 60 mph in our tests.
While the Model Y boasts impressive acceleration, it doesn’t provide the same driving satisfaction as the Model 3. The SUV’s body results in a higher center of gravity, which reduces the sharp handling of the Model 3, and the Model Y’s ride is noticeably rougher over road imperfections.
5. Porsche Macan – from £69,800
- Charging speed: 270kW
- 10-80% charge: 21 minutes
- Range: up to 381 miles
Porsche’s first all-electric SUV, the Macan, has now joined the list of top-performing EVs. As part of the brand’s transition away from combustion engines, the Macan is exclusively battery-powered. With a maximum charging speed of 270kW, the Macan can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 21 minutes.
This makes it one of the fastest charging electric vehicles available. The Macan’s electric powertrain offers a range of up to 381 miles, ensuring a quick and efficient charging experience for long-distance driving.
4. Maserati GranTurismo Folgore – from £133,000
- Charging speed: 270kW
- 10-80% charge: 19 mins
- Range: up to 284 miles
The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, priced from £133,000, offers a charging speed of 270kW. Achieving a 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 19 minutes, it ensures convenience for long-distance travel with a range of up to 284 miles on a single charge.
This sleek Italian luxury sports car secures the fourth position on the list due to its impressive charging capability.
If you’re looking for a fast drive without worrying about range or charging issues, the GranTurismo Folgore’s ability to provide 62 miles of range in just five minutes will certainly put your mind at ease.
3. Porsche Taycan – from £86,500
- Charging speed: 320kW
- 10-80% charge: 18 mins
- Range: up to 421 miles
The new 2025 Porsche Taycan, starting at £86,500, stands out with one of the fastest charging capabilities in the EV world, reaching up to 320kW.
This improvement from the older Taycan model means you can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. Both the Sports Turismo and Cross Turismo variants share this impressive feature.
The enhancement of 50kW over the old model’s charging speed is due to the new Taycan adopting the 800-volt architecture seen in other advanced models like the Kia EV9 and EV6.
2. Audi e-tron GT – from £108,680
- Charging speed: 320kW
- 10-80% charge: 18 mins
- Range: up to 375 miles
The Audi e-tron GT, priced from £108,680, offers a charging speed of 320kW and can achieve a 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 18 minutes.
Although Audi is no longer producing the e-tron GT quattro, the new S e-tron GT, arriving soon, will feature similar capabilities, placing it right behind the fastest-charging EVs.
The second-place finisher in this list, the new S e-tron GT will boast a range of 373 to 375 miles. However, it’s worth noting that the price tag of £108,680 may not suit every driver.
1. Lotus Eletre – from £89,500
- Charging speed: 350kW
- 10-80% charge: 20 mins
- Range: up to 373 miles
The all-electric Eletre marks the first SUV in Lotus’s 75-year history and is also the largest and heaviest car the company has ever produced. Weighing nearly 2.5 tonnes, this luxurious electric SUV deviates from the traditional lightweight design Lotus is known for.
Despite this shift, the Eletre remains a true driver’s car, as demonstrated during a test drive of a pre-production model on a Lotus track. It corners with remarkable grip, though the rear-wheel steering (standard on the top-tier ‘R’ model) may take some time to get accustomed to.
The Eletre is available in two power outputs. The 603hp models start at £90,000, while the 905hp ‘R’ model starts at £120,000. With a 0-62mph time of under three seconds, the ‘R’ closely rivals the performance of the Tesla Model X Plaid.
Equipped with a 112kW battery, the Eletre offers an official range of up to 373 miles for the 603hp Eletre and Eletre S models. The top-tier ‘R’ model has a range of 310 miles.