The big difference between petrol/diesel-powered cars and electric vehicles (EVs) is the time it takes to replenish their energy.
The old-fashioned way is to spend a few minutes at the fuel pumps, but now we refuel our cars in the same way we charge our phones.
And, since this new way of refuelling is more technical, charging times can vary from car to car.
First-gen electric cars could take more than a day to fully charge, but the tech is now so advanced that you can have a full battery in as little as 30 minutes with fast-charging cars.
Here are the fastest-charging used electric cars you can buy today.
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Porsche Taycan – 320kW
The Porsche Taycan is one of the most complete electric cars money can buy, and it charges pretty quickly, too.
To maximise this Porsche’s range, look out for the Performance Battery Plus option, which is standard on all Turbo models.
This unlocks a max charging rate of up to 320kW, giving you 10-80% battery in just 20 minutes, provided you’re using a rapid charger that supports these speeds.
When at 100%, it’s good for 421 miles of range, which isn’t far off what you’d get from a quick pit stop at the petrol pump.
Read our Porsche Taycan review
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Audi Q6 e-tron – 270kW
Thanks to the Audi Q6 e-tron's 800-volt electrical system (so it can take a lot of charge at once), it can charge at speeds up to 270kW.
This means a charge from 10-80% in 21 minutes at rapid chargers that support that speed.
This gets you around 158 miles of added range in just 10 minutes to get you on your way. Total range is 392 miles on a full charge.
The exact speed can vary depending on the conditions (e.g. EV batteries charge best in warmer temperatures), but this Audi still charges insanely fast.
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Hyundai IONIQ 5 – 260kW
Made famous by its performance ‘N’ version, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is another fast-charging hero.
Cars fitted with the 84kWh battery benefit from a maximum charging speed of 260kW.
This means a theoretical charging speed of 18 minutes to get from 10-80%, giving this Hyundai 354 miles of range when at 100%.
Read our Hyundai IONIQ 5 review
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Tesla Model 3 – 250kW
When electric car charging is concerned, it’s very rare Tesla doesn’t get a mention. Not just because it has the best charging network in the world, but because its cars are well-equipped to handle fast speeds, too.
When using Tesla’s Supercharger network, you can benefit from speeds of up to 250kW for the Tesla Model 3 Long Range model.
This equals a charge from 10-80% in less than 30 minutes for a total range of 390 miles when at 100%.
The RWD model, with its 170kW charging speed, can still add 175 miles of range in just 15 minutes, which is also very respectable.
Read our Tesla Model 3 review
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Kia EV6 – 240kW
Luckily for Kia EV6 buyers, all versions come with maximum charging speeds up to 240kW, giving you a rapid charge from 10-80% in less than 20 minutes.
This also means that even with a worst-case scenario of 100kW, you’re still getting a full charge in significantly less time than most other EVs.
There aren’t many faster ways to get 361 miles of range than this high-tech Kia.
Read our Kia EV6 review
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Hyundai IONIQ 6 – 233kW
Another fast-charger from the South Korean brand, all versions of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 are capable of charging at 233kW – beating its biggest rival, the Polestar 2.
This gives you up to 80% battery in less than 20 minutes to help get you on your way for 338 miles when fully charged.
Plus, with a car looking like this, you'll feel like Batman himself. But one who doesn't need to hang around to watch his car charge.
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BMW i5 – 205kW
If you’re a lifelong fan of the regular 5 Series, the all-electric BMW i5 may be a worthy next step.
Both the entry-level eDrive40 and the top-spec M60 benefit from 205kW charging.
This means a 10-minute charge will get you around 150 miles of range.
A 10-80% top-up will take just 20 minutes if you need to get closer to the full 361-mile range.
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Polestar 2 – 205kW
There’s lots of noise around Volvo’s electric spin-off brand, and rightly so.
It's making some of the most interesting EVs on the market, and they also happen to charge very quickly.
Matching the BMW i5, the Polestar 2 can charge at speeds up to 205kW for the Long Range version and gets you from 10-80% charge in 28 minutes, then onto a final range of 406 miles at 100%.
The Standard Range charges up to 135kW – one to watch out for if rapid charging is important to you.
Watch our Polestar 2 review
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Mercedes EQS – 200kW
When Mercedes entered the EV game, we knew it would help move the tech forward.
It has a long history of making superb cars, and the Mercedes EQS is one of the latest.
In 450+ and AMG 53 trims, the EQS has a maximum charging rate of 200kW, boosting your charge from 10-80% in around 30 minutes.
This is good for 453 miles of range at 100%, but just keep in mind that lower-spec models don’t charge as quickly.
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Audi Q4 e-tron - 175kW
Last but certainly not least is the Audi Q4 e-tron – a large German SUV that balances comfort and performance.
For 175kW charging speeds, you’ll need to go for a quattro version. The rear-wheel-drive models are limited to 135kW.
But oddly enough, both versions can charge from 10-80% in under 30 minutes, which is what really counts 99% of the time anyway. This is because the quattro has ultimately more range to reach.
Its total range at 100% charge state is 342 miles.
How to charge your EV as quickly as possible
Unfortunately, there isn't a surefire way to charge your EV as quickly as possible because every electric car operates at different speeds for different reasons.
However, there are a few things you can do to give your car the best possible chance, and these include:
Give yourself space: Don’t park right next to another charging car (if you can help it) as you may be using the same charger as them, slowing down your speeds
Plan ahead: Make sure you give yourself plenty of time in case a charger is faulty or in use once you get there
Use an app: Using an app such as cinchCharge means you can easily find the nearest chargers and navigate to them as quickly as possible
Warm up your batteries: Pre-heated batteries always offer faster charging speeds because the car knows they’re ready to take on more currents
Learn more about electric car charging:
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