80% in 9 minutes: Zeekr’s ‘Golden Battery’ sets record for fastest EV charging

A Chinese electric vehicle maker has featured a new EV model whose battery charges from 10 percent to 80 percent in just nine minutes, setting a new world record for the fastest charging time.

Zeekr has managed to achieve this feat with its latest model, the Zeekr 7X, with the 800-volt ‘Golden Battery’, which is capable of adding 1,270 miles (2,043 kilometers) of range per hour.

At the end of 2024, Zeekr claimed the “world’s fastest-charging” battery title after unveiling its latest battery pack that supports 5.5C charging. It was introduced with its latest sedan offering, the 007.

The EV brand owned by China’s Geely Holding Group, also owns the UK-based luxury sports car brand Lotus and the globally renowned Swedish brand Volvo.

Fastest EV charging

Zeekr has unveiled its Golden Battery technology in real-world tests, confirming its ability to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just nine minutes and 45 seconds. Fitted to the Zeekr 7X SUV, the 75 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery successfully replicated its late 2023 lab results, demonstrating record-breaking charging speeds.

A video on the Out of Spec Reviews YouTube channel replicated the test in the West, showing the battery could be drained to 0 percent and fully recharged in just 19 minutes using Zeekr’s proprietary charging network, reports Evertiq.

The company’s 840kW-rated charger is among the world’s most powerful, far surpassing the 350-400kW public chargers currently available. During testing, the 7X SUV charged at 200kW before ramping up to a peak of 460kW, maintaining an average of 400kW.

With charging speeds rivaling refueling times for gasoline vehicles, Zeekr’s fast-charging network is set to expand to markets like Australia and Thailand. According to Evertiq, the 7X SUV can gain 21 miles (33.7 kilometers) of range per minute of charging, meaning just four minutes could add 85 miles (136.6 kilometers)—addressing a key concern for EV adoption.

In comparison, the US-based EV maker Tesla offers a 15-minute charging option that allows its Model 3 to go 175 miles (282 km). Yet this is just under half of the car’s full range. So, Zeekr’s offering of charging an EV to 80 percent SOC in nearly 10 minutes is a major leap forward. 

Advancing battery technology

Zeekr’s latest EVs feature lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs, replacing the conventional nickel-cobalt-manganese batteries used in most EVs. The company’s in-house e-powertrain team has also developed the third generation (V3) of its ultra-fast charging piles, enabling significantly faster charging times.

Together, these innovations allow Zeekr’s vehicles to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 10 minutes. The advanced battery management system (BMS) ensures a stable charging experience, even in extreme conditions.

While EV batteries typically suffer from slow and inconsistent charge-discharge cycles in low temperatures, Zeekr claims its newest battery can still achieve 10 percent to 80 percent charge in 30 minutes, even in freezing conditions as low as 14°F (-10°C).

Zeekr is also rapidly expanding its charging infrastructure. It currently operates 500 ultra-fast charging stations among 2,700 total charging piles across China. The company plans to double this number within the year and aims to reach 10,000 charging piles by 2026.

With its advanced battery technology and expanding fast-charging network, Zeekr is addressing key concerns about charging speed and accessibility for EV adoption worldwide.