Accelerating the Charge: China’s Electric Vehicle Charging Race Intensifies
In the rapidly evolving landscape of electric vehicles, speed is of the essence—not just on the road, but when it comes to charging. China’s electric vehicle manufacturers are fiercely competing to cut down charging times, making electric refueling almost as quick as filling up a gas tank.
Recently, Lynk & Co, a brand under the Geely group, has made waves with its updated 10+ electric sedan, which boasts charging capabilities exceeding 1.1 megawatts. This remarkable feat allows the vehicle to charge from 10% to 97% in just under nine minutes, surpassing the charging speed of similar models from competitors like BYD.
BYD was the pioneer in this high-speed charging arena, introducing a production electric car capable of charging at over 1 megawatt. This innovation enabled the addition of 250 miles (400 km) of CLTC range in only five minutes, setting a new benchmark for the industry. As the competition heats up, the race to achieve faster charging times is pushing technological boundaries.
The Geely-owned Lynk & Co’s 10+ sedan leverages a high-voltage architecture and a 900-volt Shield Gold Brick battery to achieve its impressive charging speeds. The vehicle can charge from 10% to 70% in four minutes and 22 seconds, and up to 80% in five minutes and 32 seconds, with an average charging power of 492 kW. When charging to near full capacity (97%), it takes just eight minutes and 42 seconds, albeit with a reduced average power of 272 kW.
Despite these advancements, questions remain about the long-term effects of such high-powered charging on battery longevity. Additionally, the practicality of ultra-fast charging for everyday users is still under debate. Nevertheless, the progress made by companies like Geely and BYD showcases China’s leap ahead of the U.S. in terms of raw charging power and speed.
The Lynk & Co 10+ sedan’s performance in charging is comparable to BYD’s latest megawatt charging system, which takes nine minutes to charge from 10% to 97%. The Lynk & Co boasts a battery capacity of approximately 100 kilowatt-hours and a claimed CLTC range of 507 miles (816 km). However, it’s crucial to note that the CLTC range tends to be more generous than the EPA figures familiar in other markets.
In a charging demonstration video posted on Lynk & Co’s official Weibo account, the 10+ sedan displayed a range of 494 miles (795 km) at a 97% state of charge, consistent with the official figures.
This demonstration was conducted using a Zeekr V4 ultra-fast charger, a key component of Geely’s expanding charging ecosystem, although currently smaller than BYD’s network. The Zeekr V4 charger is described as delivering up to 1.2 MW, with some reports suggesting even higher capabilities. However, it’s important to remember that results in factory demos are achieved under optimal conditions and may not always be replicable in real-world scenarios.
The Lynk & Co 10+ is built on Geely’s modular SEA platform and features several innovations, including advanced cell cooling, to enable ultra-rapid charging. This platform also supports the updated Zeekr 001, which now offers a 10-80% charging time of seven minutes thanks to its 900-volt system.
While Lynk & Co emphasizes that the 10+ is more than just its charging stats, highlighting its track-honed handling and peak power output of 912 horsepower, the focus remains on its charging prowess. Although initially limited to the Chinese market, there are ambitions for expansion, with Europe being a potential next frontier for ultra-fast EV charging, driven by Geely’s innovations and BYD’s plans to introduce its megawatt “Flash” chargers on the continent.
Original Story at insideevs.com