Geely develops technology to charge EVs to 70% in 4.5 minutes

Chinese automaker Geely has announced a new technology that could cut electric vehicle charging times to just a few minutes. In trials, the company managed to charge a battery from 10% to 70% in four and a half minutes.

Power and results

The new system relies on a battery specifically designed for ultra-fast charging paired with a charging station reaching a maximum output of 2.25 megawatts, or 2,250 kilowatts. According to Geely, charging from 10% to 97% takes eight minutes and 40 seconds. These results were achieved in real-world tests using the Lynk & Co 10 and Zeekr 001 models.

Managing the heat

Such high charging power generates significant heat, so Geely uses liquid cooling combined with AI-controlled temperature management. The manufacturer states that during ultra-fast charging, average battery temperature is kept around 55 degrees, while the peak stays below 65 degrees. The company has also developed technology aimed at reducing battery wear caused by fast charging.

Competition in China

With this technology, Geely joins an intensifying rivalry among Chinese automakers over who can charge vehicles fastest. One of its main competitors is BYD, which this year unveiled a 1.5-megawatt fast-charging system — Geely's new station is roughly 50% more powerful. Beyond price and driving range, Chinese manufacturers are now also competing on charging speed and smart technology.

Such charging speeds won't be widely available anytime soon, since they require a compatible vehicle and battery as well as powerful infrastructure. Still, the result signals the direction the industry is heading, where charging an EV could eventually become nearly as fast as filling a tank with fuel.