Range anxiety is quickly becoming a thing of the past when it comes to electric vehicles. The biggest criticisms EVs faced were insufficient range and slow charging.

The issue of range is long gone, and charging stations are popping up all over the place. The only remaining problem, how long they take to charge, is also slowly becoming a non-issue. The latest EVs boast lightning-fast charge times, and charging stations are also improving infrastructure to accommodate faster chargers.

So, what are the fastest-charging EVs?

1. 2022 Lucid Air

The Lucid Air range offers earth-shattering performance from its various iterations, as well as an amazing range. It has trim levels that boast better range numbers than the venerable Tesla Model S, and this is no easy feat.

When it comes to replenishing your vehicle on the go, the Lucid Air range is also equipped to handle extremely fast charging. Lucid says the Lucid Air is the fastest-charging EV on the market, with the ability to replenish its battery at an astonishing rate of 300 miles in around 20 minutes. Obviously, this is amazing performance, with Lucid saying the Air will regain approximately 20 miles of range every minute it's charging.

Car and Driver tested the fast charging capabilities of the Lucid Air Dream Edition, and the results were pretty much in line with what Lucid promises. The Air averaged a cool 135 kW for the test, with the peak charging rate coming in at a whopping 297 kW, with both of these numbers being the best that the publication has observed thus far from an EV.

In our test, we saw a peak rate of 297 kilowatts—the highest we've seen yet—just after we plugged in the car at a 350-kW Electrify America station

Just in case you're wondering, the ultra-quick Tesla Model S Plaid put down a very impressive 125 kW average charging rate. Again, very nice performance, but not enough to beat Lucid's average rate.

The Plaid also recorded an impressive 250 kW peak charging rate, which is again below the Lucid Air. The Air also includes free charging through a partnership with Electrify America. According to Lucid, you can get one or two years of free charging if you reserve your Lucid Air by December 31st, 2022. Of course, whether you receive one year or two depends on the trim level of the Air you ultimately purchase.

2. Tesla Model S Plaid

The Model S Plaid is one of the best performance EVs for sale, but it's also got a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to fast charging. According to Tesla's Model S info page, the Model S Plaid can charge at a peak rate of 250 kW and replenish up to 200 miles of driving range in as little as 15 minutes.

If you're in a hurry and on a long journey, this is one of the best EVs you can own. Not only can the Model S charge at an astonishing rate, but it will also get you to your destination faster than just about any other car.

The Model S Plaid is one of the most aerodynamic vehicles you can buy, with an extremely slippery drag coefficient of 0.208.

This means you'll be recharging quickly and going the distance, thanks to Tesla's efficient dynamics. According to a Motortrend test, the Model S Plaid can fast-charge from 5% to 95% in a time of approximately 51 minutes.

This is an extreme case because most people will arrive at a Supercharger station with more juice than 5%, but 51 minutes is still very impressive by the Tesla.

3. 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5

The IONIQ 5 is one of the most exciting EVs the segment has ever seen. The combination of quality, bold aesthetic, price, and range is almost unrivaled.

The IONIQ 5 is one of the best-looking EVs, if not the best, at any price point. It looks fresher and more exciting than any Tesla SUV and also happens to feature lightning-fast charging capabilities.

The IONIQ 5 is also loaded with perks, such as free charging from the Electrify America network. Electrify America says you can charge your IONIQ 5 free for up to two years from the date of purchase, as long as each fast charging session is limited to 30 minutes or less.

This is a great deal, and other manufacturers will have to begin offering similar perks because offers like this are too good to pass up for the average consumer. According to Hyundai, the IONIQ 5's exceptionally fast 350 kW charger can charge the vehicle from 10% all the way to 80% in a mere 18 minutes.

Clearly, Hyundai isn't letting the fact that it's not the best-known EV maker get in the way of its innovative efforts. The IONIQ 5 is one of the most desirable EVs on the market and is probably the best EV you can buy for the money.

4. 2023 Audi e-tron GT

The Audi e-tron GT is arguably the best-looking electric sedan currently for sale. The sculpted lines of this vehicle don't shout at you, but they make it very clear that it's special.

It also looks much more visually appealing than its cousin, the Porsche Taycan, which has a very boring aesthetic for its price. Audi managed to outfit the e-tron GT sedan with more than good looks.

The e-tron GT features a max DC fast charging rating of 270 kW, which is quite the feat. Ironically enough, the much cheaper IONIQ 5 blows the Audi out of the water in this regard, which comes to show how the IONIQ 5 is punching above its weight class in many regards.

Regardless, the e-tron GT can recharge from 5% to 80% in around 22.5 minutes. Clearly, the e-tron GT is no slouch when it comes to recovering lost battery capacity. It will be interesting to see how much range the second-generation Audi e-tron GT offers because, at the moment, the offering is a bit subpar in relation to its price.

5. Mercedes AMG EQS 53 Sedan

The Mercedes EQS is a large, luxurious electric sedan with very boring looks. The AMG version of the EQS slightly remedies this problem with subtle styling tweaks. Regardless, it's not particularly good-looking or exciting.

This is especially problematic considering the price. Regardless, the AMG EQS just so happens to feature impressive 200 kW charging capabilities. According to Mercedes, you can top up your EQS from around 10% to 80% in a swift 31 minutes.

This is great news for anyone looking to take advantage of the AMG EQS's 277-mile range. Speaking of range, the 277-mile figure isn't very impressive, especially considering that this vehicle is more expensive than a Model S Plaid.

Fast Charging Times Will Continue to Be a Huge Selling Point

Charging up an EV in the least amount of time is a huge concern for many people. This is especially true for people who work from their vehicle, and taking an hour off to charge their EV isn't an option.

Reduced charging times will continue to expand the appeal of EVs to more people, and building up the charging architecture to keep up is a definite step in the right direction.