A recharge in less than five minutes without damaging the battery? That’s the promise of this Chinese brand.
Geely has introduced an AI-driven charging technology in China. The automaker claims it can mitigate the effects of ultra-fast charging on batteries and extend their lifespan. Meanwhile, the company is preparing to collaborate with Nio on battery swapping.
Impulses to limit wear and tear?
With the race toward increasingly powerful charging stations, people wonder how batteries will evolve over the years. Geely claims to have found part of the answer. The Chinese automaker unveiled a charging station with a power output of 2,250 kW. During tests conducted using this infrastructure, the Lynk & Co 10 and Zeekr 001 managed to go from 10% to 70% charge in just 4 minutes and 30 seconds… That’s incredibly fast!
The innovation focuses mainly on the battery cells. From repeated rapid charges, lithium accumulates on their negative electrodes and can no longer function properly within the battery. Geely states that it uses brief electrical pulses to reactivate some of this lithium. Combined with AI-driven charging management, this method could increase the battery’s cycle life by up to 20%.
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Its system also appears to predict temperature changes over the next 30 seconds in order to adjust power and cooling. Geely mentions a strategy for slow home charging aimed at gradually reducing the effects of repeated fast charges. But note that this is currently only a claim by the manufacturer—no independent tests have been published.
Geely is also closing the gap with Nio
Meanwhile, Geely has signed an agreement to acquire 30% of Nio Power, Nio’s battery charging and swapping business, subject to its finalization. Both companies are considering Geely vehicles compatible with this technology, but note that these projects still need to be defined. No specific models or timelines have been announced.
In short, Geely is exploring two ways to reduce downtime: fast charging or battery replacement. The Chinese company prefers to advance on all fronts to avoid being left behind. It’s quite clever, one must admit! To be watched closely.