Ultra-fast EV charging developments

In late July 2026, Chinese automaker FAW (through its Hongqi brand) announced a prototype ultra‑fast electric‑vehicle battery that can charge from 10 % to 70 % in 3 minutes 41 seconds and reach 97 % in just over 8 minutes. The pack relies on a low‑desolvation electrolyte, a carbon‑coated anode and an adaptive liquid‑cooling system that limits temperature variance to 3 °C, addressing the heat challenges of high‑rate charging.

At the same time, U.S. convenience‑store operators expanded their public EV‑charging footprints. Pilot added 50 new sites, bringing its network to more than 275 locations across 40 states, and began offering high‑power (up to 400 kW) chargers for electric semi‑trucks through a partnership with Tesla. Kwik Trip’s Kwik Charge program grew by 23 locations, while Onvo and ChargePoint opened chargers at 12 sites in Pennsylvania and New York. Together, these developments illustrate parallel progress in battery technology and charging‑infrastructure deployment aimed at making EV refuelling comparable to gasoline‑station times.