# China's EV charging speeds leave US in the dust

> Chinese automakers are charging EVs in under 5 minutes while US chargers max out at a fraction of that power.
- Title: China's EV charging speeds leave US in the dust · Ars Technica
- Summary: Chinese automakers are charging EVs in under 5 minutes while US chargers max out at a fraction of that power. China has achieved sub-5-minute charging to 70…
- Keywords: electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, china, united states, geely, byd, catl, fast charging, battery technology, ev charging speeds, technology, science
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/09/us-being-left-behind-in-ev-charging-speeds-as-china-goes-sub-5-min-to-70
- Published: 2026-09-25T15:21:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, china, united states, geely, byd, catl, fast charging, battery technology, ev charging speeds, technology, science
## China's charging arms race heats up
Chinese automakers are competing fiercely over charging speeds. Geely just announced a battery that charges from 10 to 70 percent in 4.5 minutes, beating BYD's 5-minute time from March.
## Geely's breakthrough battery specs
Geely's new battery charges at up to 2.2 megawatts. It reaches 10 to 98 percent in 8 minutes 40 seconds using AI thermal management to keep temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees Celsius.
## CATL still leads the pack
CATL's LFP battery announced in April charges from 10 to 80 percent in 3 minutes 44 seconds, or 10 to 98 percent in 6 minutes 27 seconds, outpacing both Geely and BYD.
## US chargers lag far behind
American chargers max out at 250 to 600 kilowatts. Tesla Superchargers deliver 250 kW, Electrify America reaches 350 kW, and ChargePoint's newest charger tops out at 600 kW.
## US EVs can't use full charger power
Even when US chargers are powerful, vehicles can't accept it all. Hyundai and Kia's 800-volt EVs max out around 240 kW, while Porsche's Taycan only accepts 320 kW of its charger's 350 kW capacity.
## Megawatt charging still years away
In the US, megawatt charging is only available for heavy-duty vehicles like buses and semis. ChargePoint says a new MCS connector could eventually deliver 1.2 megawatts, but that's still on the roadmap.
## Key takeaway

China has achieved sub-5-minute charging to 70 percent through megawatt-level power delivery, while US infrastructure and vehicles remain far behind in both charging speed and power capacity.