From 10% to 97% in less than 7 minutes: Chery enters the charging race with its 1,440 kW system

The race to reduce charging times is accelerating, with China playing a key role in driving it forward. Following announcements from BYD, CATL, and Geely, Chery has now presented its own solution to shorten the downtime of electric vehicles to match the time needed for refueling. Its new system is called Volt-dragon and claims a maximum power output of 1,440 kW, along with a particularly impressive promise: restoring 500 kilometers of range in just five minutes.

The manufacturer unveiled this technology at its innovation conference, where it also showcased advancements in artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. However, for those who use electric vehicles for travel, another figure might be even more interesting: Chery claims its system can charge a vehicle from 10% to 97% in six minutes and 50 seconds.

Achieving such a high percentage in that time would be particularly significant. Typically, the charging speed decreases as the battery fills up, which is why manufacturers usually report the range from 10% to 80%. Maintaining a fast charge close to the upper limit would allow for better utilization of the available capacity before continuing the journey.

So far, Chery has not specified which models or battery capacities correspond to these results. It also hasn’t clarified the testing cycle used to calculate the 500 kilometers of range, so we cannot interpret this as WLTP range or actual highway mileage. The presentation materials also mention a more conservative figure of 500 kilometers in eight minutes, without sufficient information to explain the difference between these two scenarios.

1,440 kW charging and a global network

The announced power refers to the system’s maximum capacity, which should be distinguished from the power the vehicle receives throughout the charging session. To utilize this high level of charging, the vehicle’s battery, electronics, and cooling system must be capable of handling such loads. Installing a more powerful charger will not enable an existing vehicle to exceed the limits for which it was designed.

According to the advertisement, the chargers will use silicon carbide power electronics and liquid immersion cooling. Chery claims an efficiency of 96.5% from the grid to the connector, though this figure does not necessarily account for all losses that occur afterward inside the vehicle. At such high power levels, heat control is essential both to maintain performance and to limit equipment consumption.

There are also improvements aimed at making them easier to use. The company states that the cable and connector assembly weighs two kilograms, with a noise level not exceeding 50 dBA during operation. These are less impressive details than the maximum power, but they are important to ensure comfortable vehicle charging and allow the chargers to function smoothly in their environment.

Artificial intelligence is also part of the presentation. Chery links Volt-dragon to CheryMind, its own artificial intelligence model, although it has not yet explained in detail how it contributes to charging. Without knowing its functions or having comparable results, it is impossible to attribute a specific improvement in the claimed charging times.

If we consider the figures provided by various companies, Chery ranks among the fastest options. CATL claims six minutes and 27 seconds to go from 10% to 98% with its third-generation Shenxing, while BYD states the time for 10% to 97% is nine minutes, and Geely reports eight minutes and 42 seconds.

That said, these ads do not represent a comparison conducted under the same conditions. The batteries, systems, and in some cases, the final percentage all change. Data on temperature, capacity, prior preparation, and sustained power is lacking to determine how these differences play out in a public charging station.

Chery is also considering adding robotic arms that connect to the charger automatically. This is complemented by V2G two-way charging, which allows electricity to be fed back from a compatible car into the grid. The possibility of generating income from this energy will depend on tariffs, agreements with operators, and the conditions in each market.

The announced rollout begins with 100 stations in ten Chinese cities, while further expansion steps are expected to be detailed by the end of 2026. The long-term goal is to have over 20,000 V2G-enabled stations worldwide by 2029. For now, the information provided does not specify a timeline for this network arriving in Spain.

The proposal includes figures that are impressive even in a market accustomed to ambitious announcements. Now Chery will need to back them up with compatible cars, performance results under various conditions, and sufficient charging stations. For drivers, the real difference will emerge when those five minutes can become part of any journey.