There have been debates on the Internet for at least a decade about whether “ultra” or “hyper” is the larger prefix.
Electrify America has given its DC fast chargers new names: Hyper-Fast and Ultra-Fast.
We understand the technical reasons people choose sides in these debates—etymology vs. common usage, for example—but the simple fact is that the distinction between hyper and ultra is not set in stone in the United States.
This brings us to Electrify America’s announcement this week that it will rebrand its DC fast-chargers for electric vehicles to make it easier for EV drivers to plug into the charger that best suits their vehicle. The names of the two highest-level chargers are, drum roll please, Hyper-Fast and Ultra-Fast.
For some, the names will reveal which is superior, but for the rest of us, the good news is that EA’s similar names can be overlooked if you pay attention to colors and icons. This is how they differ:
The most powerful DC fast-chargers are found at Hyper-Fast stations. They will use green signs with three lightning bolt icons and have a power delivery of up to 350 kW.
When a Hyper-Fast charger is used with an EV that can accept these faster charging speeds, it can “provide about 20 miles of driving range per minute of charging depending on the EV’s charging capability.”
Many EVs, including the Lucid Air, Porsche Taycan, Hummer EV, BMW i4 and iX, Rivian R1T and R1S, Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq 5, can now accept power above 150 kW.
To read our blog on “Panasonic will establish a $4 billion EV battery plant in the US,” click here
