Driving a Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes with many benefits, one of the vital vital being its standing as one of many fastest-charging electrical autos accessible within the U.S. Not too long ago, throughout a take a look at of the brand new 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 at a Tesla Supercharger, I used to be greatly surprised when the display displayed a charging fee of solely 126 kilowatts.
To these unfamiliar with electrical car charging dynamics, 126 kW is comparatively modest, particularly when in comparison with the Ioniq 5’s typical most charging velocity of round 225 kW on the quickest Electrify America stations. With these 350 kW chargers, an Ioniq 5 can cost from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes or much less, putting it among the many business’s leaders alongside luxurious fashions just like the Porsche Taycan and Lucid Air.
This decrease charging velocity (126 kW) on the Tesla V3 Supercharger in Palm Desert, California, was stunning, however Karl Holodnick, the Engineering Supervisor for Propulsion and Charging at Hyundai America’s Technical Heart, was not stunned. He indicated that they’ve been observing related outcomes persistently.
So, has the Ioniq 5 misplaced its charging prowess with the transition to a Tesla-style North American Charging Commonplace (NACS) plug? Not fairly. Nonetheless, homeowners of the 2025 Ioniq 5 counting on Tesla Supercharger entry for street journeys ought to be knowledgeable about these adjustments.
The 2025 Ioniq 5 marks the primary non-Tesla electrical car to characteristic the Tesla NACS plug. Different producers are anticipated to comply with go well with over time, some even providing adapters to their customary EVs to entry the Tesla community. Hyundai is offering an adapter that may let the Ioniq 5 use CCS charging stations, claiming no distinction in efficiency no matter which sort of charging station is used.
After depleting the Ioniq 5 to a 24% cost with roughly 50 miles of vary left, I related the car on the Tesla station. It’s price noting that the Ioniq 5’s charging door is positioned on the passenger facet, whereas Tesla plugs are positioned on the driving force’s facet. Most Supercharger cables are quick, which might complicate connections for different EVs. Happily, the Ioniq 5’s port placement allowed for a straightforward connection throughout my go to to the Supercharger. Nonetheless, some others have reported difficulties relying on the charging station’s format. Newer V4 dispensers do not sometimes have these points, and the Tesla plug’s comfort, mixed with the reliability of the Supercharger community, supplies a passable expertise.
Initially, the estimated charging time was a frightening 50 minutes, however as a Kia EV6 proprietor, I rapidly acknowledged that the Ioniq 5 was set to cost to 100%. The ultimate 10% to twenty% of DC quick charging tends to take the longest, so I adjusted the settings right down to 80%, which is my private customary for DC charging. This adjustment offered a considerably extra affordable estimate of round 17 minutes to succeed in 80%, contemplating the car had already begun drawing energy.
Charging efficiency outcomes for the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 with the manufacturing facility NACS plug confirmed the next:
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DC Quick Charging (10-80%)
- Tesla NACS: Roughly 24-Half-hour relying on the mannequin.
- With CCS Adapter on 50 kW DC quick charger: 1 hour, 1 min to 1 hour, 21 minutes.
- With CCS adapter, >250 kW DC quick charger: 20 minutes.
- AC Degree 2 Charging (10-80%)
- SE Commonplace Vary: Roughly 5 hours, 40 minutes.
- SE, SEL, XRT, Restricted: Roughly 7 hours, 20 minutes.
The Ioniq 5 maintained a gradual 126 kW cost from the Tesla Supercharger for many of the session, truly fizzling out close to the tip to round 115 kW. It efficiently charged from 24% to 80% in 28 minutes, including about 50 kWh of vitality and leading to an estimated vary of 197 miles.
Within the panorama of 2025 EVs, this charging velocity could possibly be thought of common to barely beneath expectations, notably in comparison with the optimum efficiency seen on customary 350 kW chargers. However, inside a 20-minute charging window, drivers can regain adequate vary to proceed their journey, which is often my benchmark for efficient DC quick charging.
Nonetheless, for established Ioniq 5 homeowners accustomed to faster charging instances, it’s essential to know the components behind this expertise and Hyundai’s plans for enchancment.
Whereas it would appear to be an EV charger would operate the identical whatever the car, charging know-how entails nuanced variations in voltage between Tesla’s programs and different producers like Hyundai. Holodnick defined that Tesla Superchargers function at about 470 volts, whereas Hyundai makes use of an 800-volt structure (697 volts for the bigger battery model). A comparability with Electrify America stations reveals that their newer 350 kW chargers can function at 1,000 volts, permitting them to completely make the most of the Ioniq 5’s capabilities. In distinction, the V3 Supercharger, being probably the most prevalent charging choice, is just not designed to ship that stage of voltage.
Regardless of the present limitations at Tesla Superchargers, Holodnick famous that an Ioniq 5 may probably cost quicker than a Tesla Mannequin 3 on account of its charging curve, indicating a greater general time to succeed in charging capability.
Because the EV panorama evolves, there are plans for enhancement. Holodnick talked about that Hyundai anticipates releasing an over-the-air replace within the coming months to enhance charging speeds at Tesla stations. Tesla can also be upgrading its infrastructure with new V4 Supercharger stations and cupboards designed to assist a broader vary of battery pack voltages (400V to 1,000V), which ought to yield higher charging efficiency for the Ioniq 5 and equally constructed EVs.
In abstract, whereas NACS charging is operational for the Ioniq 5 and presents a major enchancment over CCS plugs, the charging speeds could not but meet proprietor expectations. With potential forthcoming updates and enhancements from each Hyundai and Tesla, the longer term appears promising for enhanced charging experiences.
