Geely: We are reaching the physical limit of what’s possible when it comes to charging electric vehicles. So, won’t we be at the same level as refueling in terms of speed?

During the presentation of the super-fast charging capability of Geely Shendun Golden Brick’s new battery, one of the manufacturer’s management representatives stated that current charging times are pushing us toward the physical limits of Li-ion cells. The further benefits from attempts to achieve even higher power levels and shorter charging times will become increasingly minimal. In other words, according to Geely, there is no chance of achieving charging speeds comparable to refueling, that is, restoring at least 60 percent of range (from 10% to 70%) in just one minute.

Is the race for ultra-fast charging over?

The quote we paraphrased in the introduction was reportedly given in an interview with Reuters following the incident, and it was spoken by Zhang Dewang, director of the Geely Automotive Center. We were unable to find it in Reuters’ original materials, yet it aligns well with what representatives of other lithium-ion battery manufacturers claim.

When charging times range from 10 to 70 percent and take about 5 minutes, the main issue isn’t the power or voltage supplied by the charger, but rather the heat generated due to battery resistance and the ability to effectively dissipate that heat. According to Geely’s measurements, every 10-degree increase in temperature doubles the rate of degradation, while temperatures above 65 degrees Celsius result in more than tripled battery degradation. In other words, the batteries age rapidly:

In light of this, Dewang reportedly said that the next stage of the race will not be about fighting to gain additional seconds, but rather about infrastructure. And once again, it goes without saying that whoever offers better infrastructure will attract more electric vehicle owners. These words sound particularly prophetic given that Geely and Nio have just entered into a strategic partnership regarding charging and battery swap stations. For now, the focus is on integrating systems for commercial vehicles (vans, trucks), but Geely aims to produce passenger cars compatible with Nio’s battery swap stations in the long term.

A note from Elektrowozu’s editorial team: Honestly, when you don’t have to stand and watch the car like when refueling, but can use the restroom or eat something, even 10 minutes can seem too short… Falling below 5 minutes might make people stop using the restroom and start keeping an eye on the chargers instead, right?

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