These 10 electric cars charge the slowest, according to the first head-to-head testing
Charging speed can vary with things like weather and input, so Emunds set out to provide one of the first true head-to-head studies on charging speed yet. Getty Images
Slow charging can turn a quick charging pitstop into an agonizing wait.
To make things worse, it’s not always clear what models might juice up faster than others, thanks to vague claims from automakers about battery capabilities.
Charging speeds can be affected by factors like the outside temperature, battery temperature, how many people are at a charging station, and any software settings meant to protect the battery’s long-term health.
Still, chemical and engineering differences from car to car and battery to battery can affect charging speed and are worth considering when deciding on a new set of wheels.
To account for these variables and give us a true head-to-head measure of charging speed, the experts at Edmunds used data from the firm P3 that monitored electricity use while an EV was connected to a level-3 fast charger. The dataset also included power-request communications between the vehicle and the charging station to track each battery’s capacity.
Combined with Edmund’s data on electricity-per-mile on different vehicles, the results give one of the first looks at charging speeds across automakers and models.
These are the 10 slowest-charging EVs of the 43 in Edmunds’ test:
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat. Ford
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 332
A few Ford F-150 Lightning models landed on the slowest-charging list. With a range of about 320 miles, it could take less than an hour to get back to 100%.
8. 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 319
The second F-150 Lightning to make the list charges about 13 miles of range per hour slower than the RWD Lariat on the list.
The ultra-fancy Platinum trim gets some added bells and whistles the Lariat lacks, like a moonroof, more speakers, and bigger wheels (which help with efficiency and range).
The 2022 Rivian R1T. Tim Levin/Insider
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 316
Both Rivian models in three trims made the bottom of Edmunds’ list, with the larger-wheeled R1T truck charging the fastest.
6. 2022 Rivian R1T Launch Edition (20-inch wheels)
The 2022 Rivian R1T. Tim Levin/Insider
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 315
Rivian’s R1T truck has a massive battery pack to power its huge body and frame, and also helps it achieve a 300+ mile range.
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 312
Rivian’s R1S SUV charges slightly slower than the truck, but comes with one of the largest ranges for a vehicle its size.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Tim Levin/Insider
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 294
All-wheel drive EVs tend to be less efficient than rear-wheel versions, and the AWD Mustang Mach-E is no exception.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Tim Levin/Insider
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 257
The GT Performance version of the Mustang Mach-E charges the slowest of all options, Edmunds found.
2. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 179
Business Insider was a fan of the Bolt when we reviewed the 2022 model, especially for the value it provides on a range-per-dollar basis. But slow charging might be a dealbreaker if road trips are in your future.
The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV is the slowest charging EV in Edmunds’ test. Tim Levin/Insider
Edmunds tested miles per charging hour: 172
The Bolt EUV’s biggest weakness is its charging, Business Insider found last year.
