US Convenience Stores Expand EV Charging While China Unveils Ultra-Fast Battery

Convenience retailers in the United States are broadening electric‑vehicle charging networks. Pilot added 50 new sites in the first half of 2026, bringing its total to more than 275 locations across 40 states and expanding into electric semi‑truck charging with about 20 chargers in five states through a partnership with Tesla. Kwik Trip’s Kwik Charge program grew by 23 locations in its 18‑month history, offering DC fast chargers up to 400 kW. Onvo and ChargePoint are bringing EV chargers to 12 sites in Pennsylvania and New York, aiming to fill gaps in the regional network.

In China, FAW Group’s luxury brand Hongqi announced a prototype ultra‑fast battery that charges from 10 % to 70 % state‑of‑charge in 3 minutes 41 seconds and reaches 97 % in just over 8 minutes. The battery uses a custom low‑desolvation electrolyte, a carbon‑coated anode and an adaptive liquid‑cooling system that keeps temperature variance under 3 °C during high‑rate charging, addressing the heat challenges of rapid charging.