Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has shocked the industry with the recent announcement of its 1,000kW super-charging technology. The new system enables a driving range of 250 miles (approximately 400 kilometers) with just five minutes of charging—around four times faster than what current EVs like Tesla can offer.
However, industry experts point out that such extreme charging speeds are not essential in every situation. Andrew Cornelia, CEO of Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Division, stated in an interview that while the technology is a significant breakthrough, it is more important to align charging time with users’ activity schedules.
Cornelia explained, “The average dwell time for filling up your gas tank is about 10 to 12 minutes. So that’s actually the number we’re solving for.” The charging to be completed within five minutes may be excessive.
He gave examples such as cars being parked for about two hours at movie theaters or about 15 minutes at cafes, stressing that charging speed should ideally match the duration of the stop. He also emphasized that 1,000kW charging is inefficient for home charging or long-term parking, highlighting the importance of developing charging infrastructure tailored to specific uses.
Mercedes-Benz’s high-power charging network currently offers up to 400kW output. It is expanding its station locations through partnerships with establishments like Starbucks and Buc-ee’s, where customers will likely stay for a certain amount of time.
Nevertheless, Cornelia acknowledged that BYD’s announcement was a “mic-drop moment,” symbolizing the future potential of EV charging and that super-charging could play a crucial role in certain situations.
