Geely is developing a new 1,000-volt electrical architecture for its electric vehicles, with the goal of making EV charging significantly faster. The Chinese automotive group is moving beyond its existing 800V technology as competition in ultra-fast charging continues to intensify.
The development could help reduce one of the biggest concerns surrounding electric vehicles: the amount of time required to recharge. Geely has not yet revealed all the technical specifications of its upcoming 1,000V system, but the company says it is working toward even faster charging than its current EVs can deliver.
Geely Already Uses 800V Technology
Geely has increasingly adopted 800V high-voltage technology across its electric vehicles. The architecture is not limited to the battery itself. It can cover key components including electric motors, power electronics, onboard chargers, wiring and other parts of the vehicle’s electrical system.
The company is now preparing the next stage with a 1,000V architecture and higher-voltage powertrain systems. Moving to a higher voltage can allow vehicles to achieve high charging power without requiring equally extreme current levels, potentially helping reduce charging losses and improve overall efficiency.
Charging Times Could Become Much Shorter
Geely’s recent charging demonstrations show why the company is investing in this technology. A Lynk & Co electric sedan reportedly charged from 10% to 80% in just 5 minutes and 32 seconds during testing. The same vehicle reached 97% from 10% in 8 minutes and 42 seconds.
During one test at a Zeekr charging station, the vehicle reportedly reached a peak charging power of around 1,100kW. However, this figure represents peak power rather than a level that can necessarily be maintained throughout the entire charging session.
This distinction is important because real-world charging speed depends on the battery’s temperature, state of charge, thermal management and charging curve.
Geely Has Built Powerful Charging Infrastructure
Geely is also developing the charging infrastructure needed to support extremely high charging power. The company has installed more than 2,100 Zeekr-branded charging points with peak output ratings of up to 1,500kW.
Current Geely vehicles cannot necessarily take advantage of the full output of these chargers. The upcoming 1,000V architecture could help bridge that gap by allowing future vehicles to handle substantially higher charging power.
This means Geely is working on both sides of the charging equation: the vehicle’s electrical system and the charging infrastructure.
Competition With BYD Is Growing
Geely’s move comes as Chinese EV manufacturers compete aggressively over charging technology. BYD has already introduced its 1,000V Super e-Platform and high-power charging system, while CATL is also developing batteries capable of extremely rapid charging.
For consumers, this competition could eventually result in much shorter charging stops. Instead of spending 20 to 30 minutes at a charging station, future EV owners could potentially add hundreds of kilometres of driving range during a short break.
However, achieving this consistently will require more than simply increasing voltage. Batteries, cooling systems, power electronics and charging stations all need to work together safely.
What 1,000V Technology Means for EV Owners
A higher-voltage architecture could offer several advantages. Faster charging is the most obvious benefit, but improved electrical efficiency and reduced energy losses can also be important. High-voltage systems can deliver large amounts of power while controlling current, potentially reducing heat generation in some parts of the electrical system.
For long-distance EV drivers, faster charging could make electric vehicles more convenient and reduce the difference between charging an EV and refuelling a gasoline-powered car.
Geely’s existing GEA architecture already focuses on efficiency through integrated electric-drive and thermal-management technologies.
Conclusion
Geely’s planned 1,000V architecture represents another major step in the race to make EV charging faster. The company already has 800V vehicles and charging infrastructure capable of extremely high peak outputs, while its latest development aims to take charging performance even further.
The technology is still under development, and Geely has not announced a specific production vehicle or confirmed exactly when 1,000V models will reach customers. Nevertheless, the move shows how quickly EV charging technology is advancing. If Geely can combine its 1,000V architecture with high-capacity batteries, advanced cooling and powerful charging stations, future electric cars could spend dramatically less time connected to a charger.
FAQs
1. What is Geely’s new 1,000V architecture?
It is a next-generation high-voltage electrical architecture being developed by Geely for future electric vehicles, designed to support faster charging and higher electrical power.
2. How fast can Geely’s current EVs charge?
A recent test of a Lynk & Co EV achieved a 10% to 80% charging time of 5 minutes and 32 seconds, with peak charging power reaching around 1,100kW under testing conditions.
3. Does Geely already have 1,000V production vehicles?
Geely is currently developing the 1,000V architecture. Its existing electric vehicles increasingly use 800V technology.
4. How powerful are Geely’s charging stations?
Geely has deployed more than 2,100 Zeekr charging points with peak output ratings of up to 1,500kW.
5. Why is 1,000V technology important for EVs?
A higher-voltage system can help deliver very high charging power while controlling current, potentially enabling faster charging and improved electrical efficiency.