Fast Charging Explained (10–80%, kW, and What Really Matters)

A plain-English guide to DC fast charging, peak kW vs charging curve, and the 10–80% metric.

Published 2026-03-01

Peak DC max kW is useful, but the simplest “road trip” metric is often 10–80% time.

Why 10–80%?

Most EVs charge fast at low state-of-charge, then slow down as they fill up. Comparing 10–80% times is a decent apples-to-apples starting point.

Use the comparison pages

Try a few matchups: