Hyundai Targets 400 kW Charging Speeds for Three-Minute Charge Breakthrough

Electric vehicle charging is continuously improving and becoming quicker. Hyundai is already performing well, but now it aims to reduce cha...

Electric vehicle charging is continuously improving and becoming quicker. Hyundai is already performing well, but now it aims to reduce charging times to match those of gasoline-powered vehicles.

• Hyundai claims it is striving to achieve electric vehicle charging speeds comparable to refueling a gasoline vehicle—aiming for roughly 3 minutes.
• The goal is partially to reduce concerns about driving range, particularly for drivers who do not have access to charging at their residence.
• To achieve that speed, Hyundai is working on 400 kW charging technology and focusing on significant improvements in battery technology, not just by expanding battery size.

When you purchase a contemporary Hyundai electric vehicle, you are already acquiring a car that features some of the quickest DC charging available. AHyundai Ioniq 5 (and its various Kia cousins) all feature an 800-volt electrical system, allowing them to charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes on a sufficiently fast charger. These charging speeds are typically found in much pricier electric vehicles.

However, Hyundai claims it is insufficient. Not when its electric vehicles reach up to approximately 225 kilowatts, and more choices are set to enter the market.with 400 kW speeds, and competitors in China are targeting two to three times that.

The head of Hyundai's new European development center, Tyrone Johnson, shared information with the British publicationAuto Expressmaking faster charging electric vehicles will be crucial in convincing people to switch from their established gasoline cars. After all, gas vehicles can be refueled in just a few minutes; even under 20 minutes might seem good, but the concept of having to wait at all is somewhat off-putting.

"The customer expectation is that filling a car will take three minutes, similar to the time required for an internal-combustion engine," Johnson stated.Auto Express. "It could be perception rather than reality, but they are concerned about range anxiety and whether they might suddenly need to drive 200 miles. The aim is to achieve the same speed as ICE."

At a 350 kW fast charger, your typical Ioniq 5 can charge from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes, although I've managed to do it in even less time. Most contemporary electric vehicles still fall within the 20-30 minute range, with some taking longer than that. However, the rest of the industry isn't standing still. Consider the latestPorsche Cayenne Electric, for instance. With a maximum charging speed of 400 kW, Porsche states that a charge from 10% to 80% can be achieved in as little as 16 minutes—though the manufacturer does not specify the type of charger needed. Although this is significantly more costly than a Hyundai electric vehicle, the South Korean automaker must stay competitive—it has a reputation to uphold, after all.

The Auto ExpressThe report states that Hyundai is conducting tests for 400 kW charging in its laboratories. Hyundai is also working on enhancing the electric range without simply increasing the size of the EV battery, which would lead to longer charging times and added weight.

If Johnson's assertion is correct and the target is indeed approximately three minutes, then Hyundai still has a significant journey ahead. In China,BYD is currently capable of achieving five-minute rapid charging.However, this is only possible with a specialized 1,000 kW (or 1 megawatt) charging station and an electric vehicle that can handle such a high power level. The upgraded Zeekr 001 can charge at more than 1.3 megawatts, requiring under seven minutes to go from 10% to 80%. Yet, the electric vehicle industry is all about advancement—what is available on the roads now is just the beginning compared to what lies ahead.

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com

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