Fast charging electric car: The best models for long distances

The manufacturer's specifications for the range of electric cars and their fast-charging capability are quite useless in practice. Only realistic measurements can help – such as those carried out by the ADAC in its car tests.

• Why e-cars sometimes charge fast and sometimes slow

• Top 20 most long-distance e-cars

• New leader: Porsche Taycan

As is well known, electric cars often and quickly reach their limits on long distances. The ranges melt away at higher speeds. And recharging the battery takes much longer compared to the refueling process. In addition to the significantly higher acquisition costs, this prevents many drivers from switching from their car with a combustion engine to a vehicle with an electric drive.

But the technology and ranges of electric cars are getting better and better. The ADAC engineers find this in practically every newly tested model. Problem: Despite all the progress, potential buyers remain uncertain. And this has to do with the information on the ranges and consumption of electric cars that the manufacturers provide. It is difficult to rely on it, the deviations in practice are sometimes very large.

The information on the maximum charging power, which is supposed to make the charging process transparent, also does not inspire much confidence. After all, what does the value say if it is only available for a limited time and also decreases as the battery level increases? The charging power is not constant, it fluctuates considerably. But the customer does not find out in the manufacturer's brochure.

The extent to which the charging capacities of electric cars fluctuate or deviate from the maximum value during a charging process depends on the current state of the battery cells and the intervention of the charging management. Not to mention the blatant influence of winter outside temperatures, as will be explained here later.

Conclusion: Specifying a range achievable under ideal conditions or a consumption achievable with a very moderate driving style is just as unhelpful as specifying a maximum possible charging power. The statement that a DC charging stop on long-haul flights takes 20 to 30 minutes to fill the battery from 10 or 20 to 80 percent is also not very meaningful given the very different sizes of batteries.

However, when choosing their electric model, buyers should be aware of how much range or charging times they can actually expect.

The following measurement results from the ADAC car test show how quickly the different electric cars really charge. And which models can go the furthest with a charging stop.

Top 20: E-cars on the long haul

As a measure of long-distance suitability, the ADAC has defined – and this is new – a scenario that provides for a trip with a stop for an intermediate charge. The total range in this scenario is made up of 90 percent of the range determined by the ADAC with a fully charged battery plus the range, which can be recharged in 20 minutes. 90 percent of the range is taken as a basis because the battery is never completely empty until the charging stop.

The total range determined represents the distance that can be covered with a 20-minute break at a stop with maximum possible charging power at a high-power charging station.

With a total range of 931 kilometres, the rear-wheel drive version of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 was the leader in this classification for a long time. However, the Ioniq 6 has now been dethroned. The new range king is the facelifted Porsche Taycan Performance Plus with the 97 kWh battery. With a 20-minute charging break, this Taycan has a total range of almost 1000 kilometres, 50 kilometres further than the Ioniq.

The Lucid Air, which is now in third place with a total range of 859 kilometres, has a 112 kWh battery (gross), but is less efficient in consumption.

BMW makes it into the top 20 with four models: the BMW iX xDrive50, the BMW i7 xDrive60, the BMW i5 eDrive40 and the BMW i4 eDrive40. Mercedes is also excellently represented with the aerodynamically styled Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+, the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 350+, the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ RWD and the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.

Other models in the top 20 of the most long-distance electric cars: the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor, the Nio ET5 Touring with a 100 kWh battery and the Volvo XC40 Single Motor Ultimate Range. As the best VW, the VW ID.7 Pro lands in 20th place. Total range: 711 kilometres.

Tesla's models – actually the epitome of electric cars suitable for long distances – no longer define the measure of all things and, surprisingly, are only in the upper midfield in the measurements. The Model X Maximum Range is the best Tesla in 14th place.

At first glance, curious: The supposedly more economical Model S sedan with the same engine and battery configuration has less range in the test than the larger and heavier SUV. This shows the influence of tires on power consumption. While the Model X was tested with the 20" standard size and 265/275 Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires, the Model S test car had the larger 21" wheels mounted with 265/295 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

The Tesla Model 3 facelift with maximum range only lands in 23rd place. However, it should not be underestimated that Tesla has a trump card in its hand with the Supercharger network, which has been expanded throughout Europe. The interplay of charging stop planning, preconditioning of the battery and availability of the Superchargers works excellently and makes long distances in the Tesla child's play, even for electric newcomers.

The following table contains all the electric cars tested by the ADAC to date: More than 80 models, from the Aiways U5 from China to the VW ID. Buzz.

source : Schnellladen Elektroauto: Ladeleistung aktueller Modelle in der Übersicht