Chery (OMODA and JAECOO) challenges BYD and Geely with an ultra-fast charger that promises 500 km of range in 5 minutes

24/10/2026 20:30

Updated to

24/10/2026 20:30

Five minutes of charging adds 500 kilometers to range. This is Chery’s promise for its new Volt-dragon charging system, the Chinese manufacturer behind brands like OMODA and JAECOO. It was recently unveiled at their annual Global Innovation Conference. The system can achieve a maximum power output of 1.44 MW.

In China, megawatt-level charging has become a new battleground among manufacturers. BYD (Flash Charging) and Geely (Geely Smart Charge) have already established their own charging networks, and Chery didn’t want to stay on the sidelines. On paper, its figures place it in second position.

Less than seven minutes to fully charge the battery

Beyond 500 kilometers, Chery claims its system can restore 10% to 97% of charge in 6 minutes and 50 seconds. Only CATL’s third-generation Shenxing battery outperforms it, completing a 10% to 98% charge in 6 minutes and 27 seconds. Interestingly, Chery developed this charger in collaboration with CATL.

The rest fall slightly behind. BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0 takes 9 minutes, Geely’s Golden Brick requires 8 minutes and 42 seconds, while Hongqi’s ultra-fast charging takes 8 minutes and 3 seconds. However, there are fine print details. Chery has not specified which models qualify for the 500 kilometers figure nor how the system performs in extreme heat or cold. In more conservative scenarios, the brand itself states 500 kilometers can be achieved in 8 minutes.

What’s inside the charger

To receive 1.44 MW, a specially prepared vehicle is required. Compatible models should use 800-volt electrical systems or even those with over 1,000 volts. The charging current reaches 1,500 amperes, as officially confirmed during the presentation.

The charging posts utilize Chery’s latest generation of silicon carbide power electronics, achieving 96.5% efficiency from the grid to the connector. To manage the heat generated, they employ liquid immersion cooling, which is essential for such high power levels.

The connector and cable assembly weighs 2 kilograms, making it easy to handle. The brand also promises that the station’s noise level never exceeds 50 dBA, roughly equivalent to normal conversation noise.

One Hundred Stations to Get Started

A charger like this is of little use without places to plug in. Chery will open 100 Volt-dragon stations in 10 Chinese cities and announce further expansion plans by the end of 2026. The goal is to have over 20,000 V2G stations worldwide by 2029. For comparison, BYD reached 10,000 Flash Charging stations by the end of August and aims to reach 20,000 before the end of this year. The technical specifications are top-notch, but the deployment lags far behind BYD’s. It remains to be seen which cars will be able to use these stations and whether any will be available in countries where the brand already sells its cars.