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March 25, 2025 – Chinese automaker Geely is racing to bring a 1,000-volt electrical system to its next-generation electric vehicles, aiming to make refueling an EV feel as quick as a gas station stop. In a recent test, a Lynk & Co 01 equipped with a 95-kWh battery charged from 10% to 80% in just 5 minutes and 32 seconds, setting a new benchmark for production-ready charging speeds. The company has already deployed over 2,100 charging stations capable of delivering up to 1.5 megawatts, though current EVs cannot yet fully utilize that power.
This breakthrough comes as global automakers push beyond the current 800-volt standard. Geely’s move to 1,000 volts is part of a broader strategy to erase range anxiety and accelerate EV adoption. But the technology isn’t just about voltage – it requires a complete rethink of battery chemistry, thermal management, and power electronics.
Geely’s current 800-volt architecture already powers models like the Zeekr 001 and Lynk & Co 01. The new 1,000-volt system will extend across the entire vehicle – battery, motors, inverters, onboard charger, and wiring. The key advantage is that higher voltage allows the same power to be delivered with lower current, reducing heat generation and enabling thinner, lighter cables.
In the Lynk & Co 01 test, the car briefly hit a peak charging power of 1,100 kW at a Zeekr fast charger. At a BYD Flash Charging Station, it reached 430 kW. The 1,100-kW peak is not sustained – real-world charging curves depend on battery temperature, state of charge, and cooling system capacity. Still, the 10-80% time of 5 minutes 32 seconds is among the fastest ever recorded for a production vehicle, and the 10-97% time was only 8 minutes 42 seconds.
Geely has installed over 2,100 Zeekr-branded charging points that can deliver up to 1,500 kW. That’s enough to charge a typical EV in under 10 minutes, but the chargers are currently underutilized. The planned 1,000-volt vehicles will help close that gap, but higher voltage alone isn’t enough. The battery must be designed to accept such high power without overheating, and the cooling system must handle the heat load.
“The 1,000-volt architecture is a necessary step, but the real challenge is in the battery and thermal management,” says Dr. Elena Marchetti, an EV powertrain analyst at BloombergNEF. “Without a battery that can sustain high charge rates, the chargers are just a promise.”
Geely isn’t alone in the high-voltage race. BYD’s Super e-Platform already runs at 1,000 volts and is used in the Han L EV and Tang L EV. BYD claims its Megawatt Flash Charger can deliver up to 1,360 kW, and the Han L EV can add about 400 km (249 miles) of CLTC range in five minutes. Meanwhile, CATL’s second-generation Shenxing battery targets charging power of up to 1.3 MW.
Tesla, on the other hand, has stuck with 400-volt architecture for most of its lineup, though its Cybertruck uses an 800-volt system. The company’s V4 Superchargers are rated at up to 350 kW, far below the 1.5 MW Geely and BYD are targeting. However, Tesla’s advantage lies in its vast network – over 50,000 stalls globally – and its proven reliability.
For US consumers, the high-voltage race raises questions about charger compatibility. Most US fast chargers (CCS or NACS) top out at 350 kW today. Even if Geely or BYD bring 1,000-volt vehicles to North America, drivers will need chargers that can deliver 1+ MW to see the full benefit. The US government’s NEVI program has funded 150-350 kW chargers, but megawatt-level charging is still in early pilots, primarily for heavy-duty trucks.
Geely is also working on solid-state batteries, with production tests planned for 2027. The top-tier version could offer up to 500 Wh/kg of energy density, enabling a range of over 1,000 km (621 miles). But mass production is still years away, and the company has not announced any plans to sell its high-voltage EVs in the US market.
Tariffs and geopolitical tensions make a near-term US launch unlikely. However, Geely owns Volvo and Polestar, both of which sell EVs in the US. Polestar’s upcoming models could leverage Geely’s 1,000-volt technology, giving American buyers a path to faster charging without a new brand.
Geely’s 1,000-volt push is a glimpse of the next wave of EV charging. When combined with high-power chargers and advanced batteries, it could virtually eliminate the time penalty of electric driving. But the gap between lab tests and real-world convenience remains wide – and infrastructure will need to keep pace. For now, the 5-minute 32-second charge is a milestone, but not yet a daily reality.
