EXPLAINER — China's high — speed race for fast — charging EVs

BEIJING, Sept 24 (Reuters) — Chinese EV makers have another battleground in their quest for technological supremacy: ultra-fast charging. No longer satisfied with 30-minute top-ups, automakers such as Geely, BYD, and Li Auto are now racing to deliver charging speeds that mimic the 5-minute gasoline stop. That sprint to deliver extreme charging speeds has intensified as manufacturers seek to ease consumer range anxiety — and rekindle demand in the world's biggest car market, where growth has slowed. But pushing megawatt-level currents into lithium-ion batteries also poses severe engineering challenges, highlighting the risk of fire, battery degradation, and even the potential collapse of power grids. How Fast Is Fast? Chinese carmakers have raced ahead of Western rivals in charging capabilities. Geely on Wednesday unveiled an ultra-fast charging setup that boasts a specialised battery and peak output of up to 2.25 megawatts (MW) from a single charging gun. Geely said the system can charge an EV from 10% to 70% in 4.5 minutes, and from 10% to 97% in 8 minutes and 40 seconds at room temperature. Rival BYD has developed its own megawatt-level flash-charging systems and blade batteries