The electric revolution is rewriting the rules of road travel, and on-the-go, DC fast charging speed has become the metric for EV performance. While daily drivers usually wake up with a full battery every morning for their errands and commutes, road trips remain the final frontier. The ability to quickly recharge and get back on the road has emerged as a critical factor in the electric car experience.

Thankfully, the days of lengthy pit stops and range anxiety are over —2025's fastest-charging electric vehicles are pushing the boundaries of technology, offering rapid recharge times that can transform a potential inconvenience into a seamless break with little down time between highway, charging station, and the open road.

Methodology

Recurrent used three values - two empirical tests, and the third from the automakers - to generate a proprietary value called “Time to Add 100 miles.” This number assumes the DC fast charging equipment has enough power that the vehicle is the limiting factor, not the charger. This metric allows for a fair comparison between vehicles with batteries of different sizes and with different charge curves. See below for more details.

FIAT 500E » Fastest Charging Small Electric Car

The 2025 Fiat 500e targets city dwellers with short commutes, offering a compact, stylish electric hatchback. With 117 horsepower and a maximum range of 149 miles, it’s designed as a daily driver, not a high performance or road trip vehicle. The 500e stands out with its cute, fashionable design, with new colors and styles being added regularly. Inside, it comes equipped with a large infotainment touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster, and basic driver-assistance features.

Fastest Charging: Small Electric Car Runner Ups

  • Nissan LEAF - 100 miles added in 51 minutes at the maximum DC charger

LUCID AIR » Fastest Charging Electric Sedan

The Lucid Air is a high-performance luxury EV sedan that pushes the boundaries of range and efficiency. With a sleek design, an ultra-luxurious interior, and industry-leading range of over 500 miles in top trims, it has redefined what the competition is. While its high price and limited charging network may be considerations for potential buyers, it takes the crown for Recurrent’s “Most Efficient EV of 2025,”  “Fastest Charging EV Sedan of 2025,” and “Fastest Charging Electric Car between $40-$80K" with 100 miles added in 9 minutes at the maximum DC charger.

Fastest Charging: Electric Sedan Runner Ups

  • Hyundai Ioniq 6 - 100 miles added in 9 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Tesla Model S - 100 miles added in 11.6 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Genesis G80 - 100 miles in 11.8 minutes at the maximum DC charger

KIA EV6 » Fastest Charging Electric Crossover

Kia's EV6 is a versatile and fun-to-drive electric crossover that offers different configurations to meet diverse needs, from long-range models exceeding 300 miles (EPA) to performance-focused all-wheel-drive trims boasting up to 576 horsepower. Charging is among the fastest in the segment, with 800 volt charging architecture. The EV6 is positioned as a strong competitor to rivals like the Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Volkswagen ID.4.

Fastest Charging: Electric Crossover Runner Ups

  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 - 100 miles added in 9.9 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Genesis GV60 - 100 miles added in 10.6 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Tesla Model Y - 100 miles added in 11.8 minutes at the maximum DC charger

Go deeper on these, and other, fast charging electric crossovers.

Kia EV9 » Fastest Charging Electric SUV

Kia's EV9 is a versatile, three-row electric SUV that blends family-friendly interior space with impressive functionality. Offering up to 300 miles of EPA-rated range and a towing capacity of 5000 pounds, it’s available with rear- or all-wheel drive and supports fast charging up to 230 kW, or 12 minutes to add 100 miles. Interior highlights include six- or seven-passenger configurations, premium materials, and tech-forward infotainment with dual 12.3-inch screens.

Fastest Charging: Electric SUV Runner Ups

  • Tesla Model X - 100 miles added in 13.3 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Polestar 3 - 100 miles added in 14.5 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Rivian R1S - 100 miles added in 17.2 minutes at the maximum DC charger

CHEVROLET SILVERADO EV » Fastest Charging Electric Truck

Towing is a range killer, but if you’re looking to go long distances with a hitch, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV accommodates with a very fast DC charge speed. This year, Chevy expanded its lineup with a new base model and a mid-range LT trim, making the Silverado EV more accessible without sacrificing key features. It is a versatile and practical truck with fully independent suspension for a smoother ride quality and impressive towing capability. Features like 10 outlets providing 10.2kW of power, diagonal “crab walk” ability, and the available midgate add to the Silverado EV’s appeal.  - 100 miles added in 17.2 minutes at the maximum DC charger

Fastest Charging Electric Truck: Runner Ups

  1. GMC Sierra EV Denali - 100 miles added in 13.2 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  2. Rivian R1T - 100 miles added in 17.4 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  3. Tesla Cybertruck - 100 miles added in 18.1 minutes at the maximum DC charger

HYUNDAI IONIQ 6 » Fastest Charging Value Electric Car

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 is a sleek, all-electric sedan designed with aerodynamics in mind, helping it achieve an impressive range. Its futuristic interior features sustainable materials and advanced tech, including ultra-fast charging on an 800V architecture. With a focus on efficiency and style, it offers an alternative to traditional EV sedans like the Tesla Model 3 and is often recommended for first time EV buyers.

Fastest Charging: Value Electric Car Runner Ups

  • Chevrolet Equinox - 100 miles added in 17.2 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Toyota bz4x - 100 miles added in 21.2 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Nissan Ariya - 100 miles added in 23 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Hyundai Kona - 100 miles added in 24.6 minutes at the maximum DC charger

AUDI RS e-tron GT Performance » Fastest Charging Luxury Electric Car

The Audi RS e-tron GT Performance is Audi’s most powerful EV, blending high-performance engineering with cutting-edge electric technology. It features a tri-motor setup producing up to 912 horsepower, enabling a 0-60 mph sprint in under 2.5 seconds. For super fast recharges, the 2025 Audis are all built with 800V architecture - the new industry leader. The car boasts all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension, and rear-wheel steering for enhanced agility. Inside, it features a tech-forward cockpit with premium materials and digital displays. 

Fastest Charging: Luxury Electric Car Runner Ups

  • Audi S e-tron - 100 miles added in 8.6 minutes at the maximum DC charger (tie)
  • Porsche Taycan- 100 miles added in 9.4 minutes at the maximum DC charger
  • Lucid Gravity - 100 miles added in 9.6 minutes at the maximum DC charger

Charging Speeds and Times

Make/ Model
  • Fiat 500e
  • Lucid Air
  • Kia EV6
  • Kia EV9
  • Chevrolet Silverado EV
  • Hyundai Ioniq 6
  • AUDI RS E-TRON GT Performance
  • 2025 Average
Peak DC Charge Speed (kW)
  • 85
  • 250
  • 180
  • 235
  • 300
  • 235
  • 320
  • 208
Time to add 100 Miles (in min)
  • 31.5
  • 7.7
  • 9.7
  • 12
  • 11.8
  • 9.1
  • 7.8
  • 16.4

Tips to optimize your fast charge: 

  1. Preconditioning your battery by entering the fast charger in your navigation system.
  2. Show up with low range - all EVs charge fastest when the battery’s state of charge is low.
  3. Only charge to 80%. All charge curves drop off after this point, making it slow and expensive to continue to fast charge. Plus, it's not great for your battery.
  4. Make sure you have backup chargers in mind along your route in case the ones you plan on are busy or out of service.
  5. Don’t go for a charger faster than your peak charge speed (e.g. Bolt @ 250 kW charger) unless there are no other options.
  6. Use charge breaks for errands such a bathroom breaks, food, or to catch a cool roadside attraction.
  7. Remember that cold weather or a busy station may mean longer charge times and plan accordingly.

Methodology Notes: 

Peak charge speed

Peak, or maximum, charge rate, is the fastest an EV can accept electrons, in kW. This speed is controlled by the software and hardware in an EV. Unfortunately, peak charge speed is not enough information to understand how quickly any EV may charge. Peak charge speeds are only achieved at certain state of charge, and no EVs stay at their peak charge speed for the entire charge. Many drop off to slower speeds quite quickly., but some taper off more gradually. You need to know about charge curves in order to understand the full charge picture. 

Charge curves:

While a peak charge rate tells you the peak power an EV’s battery can accept within optimal conditions, there is no rule about how long you’ll charge at the peak rate. Here’s an example of how this can be complicated and why the full charge curve for each EV is often more important than the advertised peak charging rate. The Tesla Model Y boasts an impressive 250 kW peak charging rate, but it can't sustain this speed for long. By the time the battery reaches 50% state of charge, the rate drops dramatically to around 100 kW. On the other hand, Nissan Ariya takes a different approach with a more constant charging curve. While its peak rate is much lower at only 130 kW, it maintains this rate consistently until about the 50% mark.

Price cap: All Recurrent awards, other than the Luxury Vehicle segment, are awarded to EVs with an MSRP below $80,000.

Vehicle Class: We use EPA vehicle classifications as a guide, with some modifications to better reflect the vehicles featured.