What is the Fastest Charging Electric Car? (UK)
We explore the fastest charging electric cars on the market
A benefit of driving an electric car is that you don’t need to fill it with fuel. Instead, you charge it with electricity – not dissimilar to how you’d charge your phone.
But of course, it takes a little longer to charge a car: which is the fastest-charging electric car in the UK?
What is the Fastest Charging Electric Car in the UK?
According to The Eco Experts, the fastest charging electric car in the UK is the Hyundai IONIQ 6 Long Range 2WD, which will charge from 10% to 80% in just 16 minutes.
However, this can only be achieved using a 350kW ultra-rapid charger, which are quite hard to come by - they're not available for domestic purchase, and can only be found in certain public charging stations.
For this article, we have taken into consideration the cars that charge the fastest with both a standard wall charger, and more commonly found rapid chargers.
Which Electric Cars Charge the Fastest with a Wall Charger?
MINI Electric: 0%-100% in 3 hours 30 minutes using a 7.4kW charger
The MINI Electric is a popular choice for many EV drivers due to its iconic look and classic MINI handling. It can go from flat to full on a standard home wall box charger in three hours and thirty minutes, which is a feat not many electric cars can boast about.
Smart EQ Fortwo: 10-80% in 3 hrs 20 mins using a 7kW charger
One of the reasons the Smart EQ Fortwo charges the quickest on a standard 7kW charger is down to its tiny size – it can only cover 80 miles between charges, but it is incredibly easy to charge and drive. It is also relatively affordable, and cheap to charge, so if you live in a city and have no children, this could be the best EV for you.
Volkswagen e-Up: 10-80% in 4 hours using a 7.2kW charger
With a 159-mile range and a sleek design, the e-Up is the perfect car. Its ability to charge from 10-80% in just four hours is another benefit.
Unfortunately, it is no longer available to buy new. However, you can still get your hands on a very good quality second hand one.
Honda e: 0-100% in just over 4 hours using a 7kW charger
The Honda e is another sufficient small electric car. Its zero to one hundred in just over four hours makes it an appealing choice for city dwellers. Loaded with plenty of high tech features and a 136-mile range, this car suits most of the needs a city driver may have.
Which Electric Cars Charge the Fastest with a Rapid Charger?
Tesla Model 3: 10-80% in 23 minutes using a 250kW charger
Tesla is the undisputed king of electric cars, and it is easy to see why. They have an advantage over the other EV brands with their Supercharger network – a series of Tesla-branded charging points all over the world, with a maximum charging rate of 250kW. You’ll be back on the road within minutes with this model.
Skoda Enyaq iV: 0-80% in 29 minutes using a 135kW charger
Practical and large, you can charge this vehicle in the time it takes to watch a single episode of a sitcom. It is comfortable, which is good news, as the larger battery model can travel up to 336 miles on a single charge.
Vauxhall Corsa-e: 15%-80% in 30 minutes using a 100kW charger
The Corsa-e is a delightful small city car that packs a punch considering its size – the fact it can charge at a speed of 100kW is impressive on its own. It’ll take a cool 30 minutes to charge from 15% to 80%, perfect for those with busy lifestyles.
Peugeot e-2008: 0-80% in 30 minutes using a 100kW charger
Though much larger than the Corsa-e, the Peugeot e-2008 uses essentially the same charging technology, making for another speedy charge. It is large enough for a family and luggage, so it’ll suit a busy, family lifestyle.
Volkswagen ID.4: 10-80% in 34 minutes using a 125kW charger
One of the safest EVs around, the ID.4 is perfect for carrying around little passengers in the back, with the three Isofix locations. With a choice of battery sizes, 52kWh or 77kWh, this car is as nippy as it is safe.
How Does Electric Car Charging Work?
The length of time it takes to charge your car depends on the size of your car’s battery, and the power output of the car’s charger.
You can use this equation to work out how long it will take to fully charge your car:
Battery Size (kWh) ÷ Charger Power (kW) = Charging Time (Hours)
As an example, a Renault Zoe has a 52kWh battery. If you plug it into a typical 50kW rapid charger, it’ll take just over an hour to charge it fully.
What are Rapid Chargers?
Even though you can plug your electric car into the mains in your house, it can take as much as 17 hours to charge fully. If you invest in a home fast charger, you could charge your car in less than ten hours – meaning you can leave it on charge overnight and come back to a fully charged car in the morning.
A fast charger is usually between 7kW and 22kW. You can find ‘rapid’ chargers and ‘ultra-rapid chargers’ (43kW and between 50kW and 350kW respectively) at shopping centres and motorway service stations, which can charge your car in as little as half an hour.
It is worth noting that it depends on your car whether or not you can use rapid or ultra-rapid chargers with your car – every EV has an upper limit for its charging speed in order to protect the battery, so make sure you double-check before you plug in.
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