China is starting to measure EV charging times in seconds, not minutes — SkimNews
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- Geely subsidiary Lynk & Co launched the new 10 series EVs using its "Golden Brick" battery, the first to charge from 10-70% in 4 minutes and 22 seconds
- BYD's "Blade 2.0" battery charges 10-70% in 5 minutes and is already deployed across several vehicles on the road
- CATL, the world's largest EV battery maker, is testing a consumer pack that charges 10-80% in 3 minutes and 44 seconds — not yet in a vehicle but undergoing real fast-charging trials
- FAW Group announced a battery reaching 10-70% in 3 minutes and 41 seconds, joining the seconds-tier competition
- BYD, Geely, and state-owned Dongfeng all rolled out 1,500kW chargers this year, with BYD targeting 20,000 installations by year-end
- In the US, Hyundai/Kia E-GMP vehicles need roughly 18 minutes for a 10-80% charge; the upcoming Mercedes AMG GT EV cuts that to about 11 minutes but will cost well into six figures — while Chinese fast-charging cars sell for under $30,000
- Republican-led Department of Transportation delays have slowed US charger rollout, including court-blocked attempts to pause Biden-era IRA/IIJA funds and a new rule refusing money to chargers with Chinese components
Why it matters: Chinese consumers can buy sub-5-minute-charging EVs for under $30,000, while US buyers face either 18-minute stops on Hyundai/Kia vehicles or a six-figure Mercedes — a gap the DoT is widening by blocking federally funded chargers containing Chinese components, cutting America off from the world's fastest charging hardware.
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