Power
Chinese automaker unveils ultra-fast megawatt EV charger
Chinese manufacturer Chery has introduced a high-capacity direct current charging technology capable of delivering substantial electric vehicle range in minutes.
Key points
- Chery reveals a 1.44 megawatt DC charging architecture.
- System achieves rapid replenishment, rivaling domestic competitors like BYD and CATL.
- Global infrastructure rollout is planned over the coming years.
What happened
Electrek reported that Chinese vehicle manufacturer Chery has revealed a new high-power direct current charging system rated at 1.44 megawatts. According to the coverage, the technology can supply roughly five hundred kilometres of driving range to an electric vehicle in five minutes under standard operating conditions. The system utilizes artificial intelligence integration, named CheryMind, to regulate thermal output and safeguard battery longevity during rapid energy transfer.
The automotive sector in China continues to advance rapidly in high-power charging solutions. CarNewsChina noted that local firms are fiercely competing over minor time margins for full battery replenishment. Competitors such as BYD, Geely, and CATL have similarly disclosed high-capacity systems, with BYD deploying thousands of its 1.5-megawatt units and CATL developing advanced rapid-charging batteries. Meanwhile, charging speeds in regions like the United States remain significantly lower, generally hovering around 400 kilowatts for public installations, though higher capacities are anticipated.
What comes next
Chery intends to scale its infrastructure deployment progressively. The enterprise plans to establish an initial network of one hundred stations across ten Chinese cities before pursuing a broader international expansion. Corporate targets outline a global footprint of twenty thousand charging stations by 2029, though competitor BYD maintains an accelerated timeline to achieve a similar station count by the conclusion of the current year.
Why it matters
The rapid evolution of high-capacity charging infrastructure in major manufacturing nations carries important implications for global energy markets and the electric mobility transition. World Bank figures indicate that global electricity use per person stood at 3,708.5 kilowatt-hours, whereas China recorded a higher average of 7,037.7 kilowatt-hours per person in 2024, underpinned by a 28.4 percent renewable share of electricity output as of 2021.
For emerging economies and energy-exporting nations in Africa, such technological breakthroughs highlight the widening technological gap in urban transit electrification. As petroleum markets adjust—reflected in recent US Energy Information Administration benchmarks showing Brent crude at 115.22 US dollars per barrel and West Texas Intermediate at 107.89 US dollars per barrel in October 2026—policymakers and investors must monitor how fast-charging innovations could accelerate global oil demand displacement. Developing nations with constrained grid capacities will need to evaluate grid reinforcement strategies before adopting ultra-fast charging architectures.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Grids decide whether generation becomes power that homes and businesses can rely on. Generation mix, transmission and distribution losses, and tariffs together shape reliability and the case for investment.
100.0% of people in China had electricity in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
