Geely used an event in Ningbo on September 23 to unveil its Smart Charging technology and a fifth-generation smart charging station, framing the package as a direct answer to BYD's ultra-fast charging campaign. The new station peaks at 2,250 kW, well above the 1,500 kW single-gun maximum of the flash charger BYD introduced in March, which until then was the most powerful mass-produced charger anywhere.
The demonstration cars tell the sharper story: a Lynk & Co 10 and a Zeekr 001 fitted with the Shendun Golden Battery, which supports peak rates of up to 12C, added charge from 10% to 70% in 4 minutes 30 seconds and reached 97% in 8 minutes 40 seconds. BYD's second-generation Blade Battery needs five minutes and nine minutes for the same two windows, while Hongqi's July test result of 3 minutes 41 seconds still lacks a production timetable.
The brains come from Xingrui PowerMind, an energy AI model co-developed with startup StepFun that coordinates the vehicle, battery, charger, cloud, grid and storage to tailor every charging session. It anticipates battery temperature half a minute ahead and modulates output to hold the pack's average below 55°C. A five-point liquid-cooling loop spans the storage battery, dispenser, cable, charging port and pack — a claimed industry first — and a micro-pulse technique that reactivates lithium ions at the negative electrode is said to extend cycle life by up to 20%.
The broader race is accelerating. BYD will switch on its 2,000th highway flash-charging station on September 24 and still targets 20,000 by year-end, while battery maker Sunwoda last week matched BYD's battery metrics and plans 10,000 megawatt-class stations by the end of 2027. Geely also teased an Ultra Short Blade Battery for affordable models, using in-house laser welding to cut charging heat by 10% while lifting peak rates to 6C.