Chery has entered China's escalating high-speed EV charging contest with a claimed 1.44-megawatt system that adds 311 miles of range in five minutes, Electrek reported.
Even so, it does not appear to be the fastest charging technology unveiled in China.
Here's what to know
Chery says the setup adds 311 miles (500 kilometers) in five minutes and can charge a battery from 10% to 97% in 6 minutes and 50 seconds, per CarNewsChina, which Electrek cited.
Those results put it among China's leading ultra-fast EV charging systems.
That places Chery's new "Volt-Dragon" battery second in CarNewsChina's ranking for reaching 97% state of charge. CATL remains in first at 6 minutes and 27 seconds, leaving Chery 23 seconds behind.
For the same near-full-charge benchmark, CarNewsChina lists FAW, Geely, and BYD in the eight- to nine-minute range. Electrek also highlighted BYD's 1.5MW charger, which has already been installed 10,000 times, as well as Geely's announced 2.2MW charger.
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Chery did not release charging figures for very hot or very cold conditions during the announcement.
However, it said the system could still add 311 miles (500 kilometers) of range in eight minutes in "conservative scenarios," suggesting the five-minute figure reflects ideal conditions.
More background
The fastest public chargers in the U.S. are around 400 kilowatts, with 750kW potentially arriving, which would still be well below Chery's 1.44MW claim.
Quicker charging is especially useful on road trips and at busy urban charging stations.
It also adds to the appeal for people considering making their next car an EV: EVs save money on fuel costs and usually require less routine maintenance than gas-powered vehicles.
As companies such as Chery, BYD, and Geely push charging speeds higher, home charging remains important for many households.
Charging an EV at home often costs half as much as using public chargers, but basic Level 1 charging tends to be slow. Qmerit provides free, instant installation estimates for faster Level 2 home charger installations.
What's being done?
Chery has already begun deploying the new chargers and plans to open 100 across 10 Chinese cities.
Under the CheryMind name, the platform is described as "AI-Powered." Chery says it adjusts charging power as battery temperatures shift to help maintain charging speeds and battery health.
The push to shorten charging stops matters most at high-throughput locations, particularly in urban areas where some drivers do not have a consistent place to plug in overnight.
In that context, Electrek pointed to BYD's 10,000 deployed 1.5MW chargers, Geely's 2.2MW system announcement, and CATL's hyper-fast-charging battery as signs that competition is increasingly focused on cutting waits.
Where can I learn more?
Chery's announcement comes amid a broader race among Chinese EV companies to slash charging times. These articles follow BYD and CATL's fast-charging batteries and charger rollouts.
• In Canada, BYD says 5-minute EV chargers could arrive before its cars.
• BYD has unveiled a flash-charging battery system aimed at gas-like refueling times.
• CATL introduced a fast-charging battery that adds 300 miles in 10 minutes.
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