We all know that electric vehicles represent the future of the world. Over the past few years, we have observed that people across the globe are increasingly preferring EVs (electric vehicles) over ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles.
There has long been a sense of insecurity among the public regarding EV charging times; however, that may no longer be the case, as megawatt-level chargers are now striving to make EV charging as fast as the time it takes to refuel a conventional vehicle.
Last week, Chinese automaker BYD introduced its flash charger with a capacity of 1500 kW, which takes only 5 minutes to charge from 10 to 70 percent. Now, Geely, the owner of Volvo, has also joined the race.
What are megawatt-level EV chargers from BYD and Geely?
The megawatt-level chargers from BYD and Geely are the next-generation ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers, which generate the power of 1000 kW (1 MW) and more, resulting in charging the EVs within 10 minutes.
The ultra-fast EV charger that BYD has introduced is known as the Flash charger, and Geely’s megawatt-level charger is named Zeekr. The key details for both of these EV chargers are available below.
BYD’s Flash Charger:
- Its peak charging power is 1,500 kW, generating a maximum current of 1,500 A; this is designed for EVs built on a 1,000 V platform. As for its input capacity, it stands at 2,100 kW.
- With the maximum power, it can charge an EV from 10 to 70 per cent in just 5 minutes and up to 97 per cent in only 9 minutes. Even in extreme cold conditions such as -30 degree Celsius temperatures, it takes hardly 12 minutes to charge the EV.
- It is compatible exclusively with the Blade Battery 2.0, which supports 10C+ ultra-fast charging. While currently compatible with BYD’s top-tier models, such as the Han, Tang, Denza, etc., it is expected that we will see this charging capability extended to BYD’s mid-range EVs in the near future.
- It comes with a T-shaped overhead structure, dual charging guns for each unit, and a liquid-cooled cable, weighing approximately 2 kg.
- It is currently available at over 4,000 charging stations in China; however, the company aims to increase this number to 20,000 by the end of 2026.
Geely’s Zeekr
- Its peak power is 1300 kW, that too with just one connector, but for advanced EVs it is up to 1500 kW. If we talk about its charging speed, then it takes only 7 minutes to charge from 10 to 70 per cent; this is the same time it usually takes for refuelling.
- It operates in conjunction with a 95 kWh Golden Battery, featuring an ultra-fast charging rate of 12C; in terms of its supporting platform, it utilises a 900V architecture. Its charging system has been named the ‘Extreme Charge Megawatt Pile’.
- Within China, its charging network is quite extensive; there are a total of 2,103 stations across the entire country, comprising 10,212 charging ports. Of the total chargers, 5,548 are ultra-fast chargers, and there are 1,216 ultra-fast charging stations.
With the advent of ultra-fast EV chargers, it now appears that people will shift even more rapidly from ICE vehicles to EVs. As we all know, China is home to the world’s largest EV market; Chinese EV manufacturers are heavily investing in zero-carbon emission vehicles, constantly introducing innovations that serve to further heighten public interest in EVs.
Ever since BYD unveiled its 1500 kW charger last week, discussions surrounding it have been intensifying among EV enthusiasts. Now that Geely has also announced its own ultra-fast charging technology, the pace of these discussions has accelerated even further.
People are now hoping that this fast-charging capability becomes available in mid-range EVs as well, enabling those owners to enjoy stress-free driving; the question now remains: when will this actually happen?
