Geely unveils 4-minute EV charging, AI tech in rivalry with BYD

Chinese automaker Geely unveiled Wednesday an electric vehicle charging system capable of fully charging in four minutes, claiming the industry's fastest speed, as it intensifies competition with rival BYD in China's struggling EV market. The system, supported by 2.2-megawatt infrastructure and high-rate battery capacity, charges from 10% to 70% in 4.5 minutes and to 97% in 8 minutes 40 seconds. Geely deploys AI with cloud-based simulations and on-vehicle deep-learning models to monitor battery health and manage thermal safety. The announcement follows BYD's flash-charging system unveiled earlier this year, which charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes, with plans for 90,000 stations by 2028. Geely executive Zhang Dewang noted charging speeds are approaching physical limits, while EV sales in China have declined for 11 consecutive months through August.