Five-minute EV charging: what the latest claims mean for UK drivers
Updated: 4 days ago
The short answer: manufacturers are reporting very short charging times with particular vehicles and charging systems. That is significant progress, but “five-minute charging” does not mean every EV can charge from empty to full in five minutes, or that the equipment is available for your UK site.
Research checked 16 October 2026. The figures below are attributed manufacturer reports, not tests carried out by Logic Charge. Announced capability and independently verified everyday performance are different kinds of evidence.
What did Geely announce?
Geely’s September 2026 announcement reports Lynk & Co 10 and Zeekr 001 charging from 10% to 70% in four minutes 30 seconds, and from 10% to 97% in eight minutes 40 seconds. It describes a charging system with peak power of 2,250 kW, or 2.25 megawatts. That station rating is not evidence that a car continuously receives 2.25 MW throughout the session. The announcement also describes cooling and battery-management technology.
How do BYD and CATL fit in?
BYD’s March 2026 Blade Battery 2.0 and FLASH Charging announcement reports 10%–70% in five minutes and 10%–97% in nine minutes, with up to 1,500 kW from a single connector. CATL’s April 2026 announcement reports 10%–80% in three minutes 44 seconds for its third-generation Shenxing technology. These are different systems, charging windows and conditions. Ranking them by the shortest number alone would mislead.
Why is 10%–70% different from a full charge?
A charging window describes the starting and finishing battery percentage. Going from 10% to 70% adds 60 percentage points, not a full battery. Charging power also changes during a session, often reducing near a high state of charge. To compare fairly, ask for the same window, the energy delivered, battery temperature and the exact vehicle version. Peak power alone cannot answer how long your stop will take.
Can I get this speed from a home charger?
No. These announcements concern specialist high-power DC systems and compatible vehicle technology. A home AC wallbox uses a different charging arrangement and is limited by the vehicle’s onboard AC charger and the installation. Buying a wallbox labelled 22 kW will not give a car the capabilities in these demonstrations. Many workplace vehicles also have hours to charge, so the useful question is whether they are ready when needed.
What should a UK commercial buyer check?
Ask whether the exact equipment is supplied and supported in the UK, which fleet vehicles can use its full output, and how much power is shared when several vehicles plug in. Check network connection requirements, site layout, accessibility, servicing, software and operating costs. A demonstration abroad is not proof of an available UK installation package. We have not verified UK deployment of these particular announced systems.
What would count as stronger evidence?
Independent testing should state the vehicle, battery, charger, temperature, starting charge and test method. NAF’s winter 2026 charging tests are an example of reporting real vehicles under stated test conditions. Such results remain specific to those conditions; they do not establish that one home charger brand lasts longer than another.
For most buyers, the best charger is the one that meets the vehicle’s needs, the site’s capacity and the available charging time. New technology is worth following. A project still needs a practical design.
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