First it was BYD, and now OMODA and JAECOO’s founders have also released a 1.440 kW charger that can restore 500 km of range in 5 minutes.
25/10/2026 23:00
Updated to
25/10/2026 23:00
China’s automotive industry continues to reduce the time required to charge an electric vehicle. While achieving a full charge in half an hour seemed like an extraordinary advancement just a few years ago, major manufacturers are now competing to shorten this process to just a few minutes. BYD, Geely, and CATL have already introduced technologies capable of delivering powers exceeding 1,000 kW, but a new player has recently joined this technological race: Chery Group.
The Chinese manufacturer, owner of brands such as Lepas, OMODA, and JAECOO, has introduced a new ultra-fast charging system called ‘Volt-Dragon’, capable of reaching a maximum power of 1,440 kW. According to the company’s data, this technology allows drivers to gain up to 500 kilometers of range in just 5 minutes and increase a battery’s charge level from 10% to 97% in only 6 minutes and 50 seconds. These figures place Chery among manufacturers with the fastest charging systems announced to date.
Up to 500 kilometers of range in five minutes
The main feature of Chery’s new system is its high charging power. The announced 1,440 kW far exceeds the capabilities of most conventional fast chargers and allows for a significant reduction in the time needed to recharge. The brand claims its technology can add 500 kilometers of range in just 5 minutes of charging.
Another striking figure is the time required to go from 10% to 97% battery charge. Chery reports 6 minutes and 50 seconds, a figure that would place it as the second-fastest technology. Only CATL achieves a faster result, at 6 minutes and 27 seconds, while FAW, Geely, and BYD’s solutions would take between 8 and 9 minutes to complete the same charging interval.
However, these results should be interpreted as performance figures for compatible systems, not as times that can be achieved with any electric car. To utilize such power, both the charger and the vehicle’s battery must be equipped to handle exceptionally high currents. Additionally, factors such as battery temperature can significantly affect performance.
The use of artificial intelligence to control battery temperature
Indeed, one of the most important elements of this new technology is the intelligent management system developed by Chery. The company calls it ‘CheryMind’ and claims it uses artificial intelligence to adjust the charging power based on temperature variations within the battery.
The goal is to maintain high charging speeds without unnecessarily compromising the battery’s health. This is particularly important when working with powers exceeding megawatts, as thermal control is crucial for managing the demands of such processes. However, Chery has not yet released detailed data on battery degradation after numerous ultra-fast charging cycles. The company has also stated that, under more conservative scenarios, its system could restore 500 kilometers of range in approximately 8 minutes.
Chery aims to install 20,000 charging stations by 2029
Beyond the technical specifications, Chery has also announced its initial plans to deploy this infrastructure. The manufacturer has already begun installing chargers and aims to have around 100 charging points in 10 Chinese cities soon. Its long-term goal is to reach 20,000 charging stations worldwide by 2029.
The competition, however, is advancing rapidly. BYD has already announced the installation of 10,000 charging stations with capacities up to 1,500 kW in China and aims to reach 20,000 by the end of 2026. Geely, on its part, has introduced systems with capacities up to 2.2 MW, though the available power depends on the configuration and the vehicles connected. So far, Chery has not specified when its “Volt-Dragon” chargers might arrive in Europe or which models sold in Spain would be compatible with their highest performance levels.