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2022-09-10 11:08:01 By : Mr. Alex Zhang

The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80’s DC fast-charging claims are impressive considering it’s based on a gasoline-powered luxury sedan that was redesigned for 2021 with no electrified variant, not even a gasoline-electric hybrid. Now available as a dedicated electric car with what Genesis says is an EPA-rated 282 miles of range, the brand claims it takes just 22 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% battery capacity at a public 350-kilowatt DC fast-charging station, which is as quickly as electric cars that are only electric cars.

Related: 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 Priced at Just Over $80,000

The Electrified G80 supports 800-volt charging just like its immediate and extended EV family that includes the Genesis GV60, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, and one of the key claims of using higher-voltage technology (versus the more common 400 volts) is the promise of faster DC charging. Even so, DC fast-charging times can vary by a number of factors, and the fastest specs are often qualified by the maximum power of the charging station and car, as well as ideal battery conditions and ambient temperatures (Genesis’ maximum charging speeds come at “room temperature”).

We wanted to observe how quickly the Electrified G80 charges in the real world where conditions aren’t always ideal, so with 16% charge, we headed to an Electrify America 350-kilowatt charging station to see how quickly the G80 EV could charge to 80%, and how many miles of range that would add. With external temps at 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the test, would we see a charging time similar to the as-advertised spec?

It didn’t take long to find out because the Electrified G80 only took 20 minutes to charge from 16%-80% at a 350-kW DC fast-charging station, which added 187 miles of predicted range (66% of its rated range). The 9.35 miles of range per minute added is similar to the charging speeds we’ve observed in the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 when we charged those from 18% to 80%, and faster than our long-term Tesla Model Y, which in the same conditions as the EV6 and Ioniq 5 only managed 5.9 miles of range per minute on a 250-kW Tesla Supercharger.

While the Electrify America charging station is capable of delivering 350 kW, the Electrified G80 accepts a maximum power of 187 kW. Power started at 160 kW and steadily climbed to 179 kW before suddenly dropping around the 15-minute mark, though power remained above 150 kW until closer to 80%. For comparison, our Model Y peaks at its maximum fast-charging speed (250 kW) right out of the gate before steadily falling.

The Electrified G80 started the test with 47 miles of predicted range and ended with 234 miles of range at 80%. We could have kept charging, but it’s normal for DC fast charging to slow past 80%. The car estimated it would have taken an additional 28 minutes to charge to 100%.

The following considerations aren’t specific to the Electrified G80, applying to all EVs capable of DC fast charging — especially ones that require a 350-kW charging station for their best results.

While 20 minutes to add 187 minutes of range is a strong result for any EV, those who need 100% battery for maximum range between charging stations might find the estimated 48 minutes to complete the charge less convenient. Yes, “fast” charging is quick relative to the 7 hours, 22 minutes it takes to charge the Electrified G80 from 10% to 100% at home at 10.9 kW, but it’s still considerably slower than refueling the regular G80 (and its 386 miles of total range) with gasoline.

Genesis includes free 30-minute DC fast-charging sessions for three years with Electrify America when you buy an Electrified G80, and fees can vary once you’re outside that window depending on location or membership plan. We paid for our charge session, and the car’s 21-minute session (charged to 81%) cost $24.94 to refill the battery with 58.12 kWh of energy; in our area, Electrify America charges 43 cents per kilowatt-hour.

While convenient, spending roughly $25 to replenish 187 miles of driving range certainly erodes the energy cost savings of an EV versus charging at home where the national electricity average is 17 cents per kWh. Adding the same energy at home, more slowly, would have cost $9.86 at the current national average.

Yes, but sparingly. Using DC fast charging for everyday charging can shorten the expected life of the 87.2-kWh-capacity battery, according to the Electrified G80’s owner’s manual:

“Battery performance and durability can deteriorate if the DC charger is used constantly. Use of DC charge should be minimized in order to help prolong high-voltage battery life.”

Again, this is language you’ll see in any EV’s owner’s manual with DC fast charging. One of the more definitive figures we’ve seen about fast-charging battery degradation is from Kia, which states eight years of standard charging can give 10% more battery life compared to eight years of only using fast charging. Charging at home is how we recommend EV owners live with one to prolong battery life and save on energy costs, while DC fast charging is most appropriate for on-the-go charges away from home.

Another factor limiting the practical use of the Electrified G80’s maximum fast-charging speed is that 350-kW charging stations are currently not widely available, so road-tripping it with these kinds of results means picking a route on highway corridors where 350-kW charging stations exist.

However, the above is simply living with an EV; for now, it takes more work and consideration than driving a gasoline-powered vehicle. Looking specifically at what the G80 EV did in this test on a DC fast charger, however, 16%-80% in 20 minutes while adding 187 miles of range remains impressive.

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