Chinese company Geely, through its brand Lynk & Co, has issued a challenge to the fast charging technology developed by BYD, confirming that the charging performance of its electric vehicles is significantly faster. This announcement follows closely on the heels of BYD revealing its new second-generation Blade battery, which claims to be the fastest globally in the realm of fast charging.
According to reports, the Lynk & Co 10 model can charge its battery from 10% to 70% in just 4 minutes and 22 seconds, and from 10% to 80% in 5 minutes and 32 seconds, while reaching 97% charge takes 8 minutes and 42 seconds. These figures indicate a clear superiority over BYD's fast charging technology, which requires approximately 5 minutes to reach 70% and 9 minutes to hit 97%.
Event Details
During testing, the maximum charging power reached 1,100 kilowatts, and the power remained above 500 kilowatts even after the battery reached 80%. These tests were conducted using a V4 ultra-fast charging station produced by Zeekr, introduced last year, which features a charging capacity of up to 1,300 kilowatts.
It is worth noting that Geely has not yet disclosed a timeline for the widespread implementation of this new infrastructure, leaving questions about when users can benefit from this advanced technology.
Background & Context
The electric vehicle industry in China is one of the fastest-growing in the world, with major companies like BYD and Geely competing to offer innovative technologies. In recent years, China has seen a significant increase in the number of electric charging stations, with BYD installing over 5,000 fast charging stations and plans to expand this number to 20,000 stations by the end of the year.
On the other hand, Geely operates a charging network that includes over 2,100 stations and 10,000 charging points across 215 cities, reflecting its commitment to expanding its infrastructure to support electric vehicles.
Impact & Consequences
This competition between Geely and BYD is indicative of the increasing trend towards innovation in the electric vehicle sector. With the rising demand for electric vehicles, improving charging technologies will have a significant impact on user experience, potentially contributing to greater reliance on these vehicles.
Moreover, these developments may accelerate the transition to clean energy in China, contributing to the achievement of global environmental goals.
Regional Significance
With the growing interest in electric vehicles in the Arab region, these advancements in charging technologies may hold particular importance. Many Arab countries are striving to enhance the use of electric vehicles as part of their strategies to reduce emissions and achieve sustainable development.
In light of this competition, Arab companies may seek to collaborate with Chinese firms to adopt these advanced technologies, thereby enhancing the electric vehicle infrastructure in the region.
The competition between Geely and BYD in the field of fast charging technologies reflects the global trend towards innovation in the electric vehicle industry, opening new horizons for the development of this sector in the future.