.jpg)
Despite leaps and bounds in EV battery technology in a very short time, buyers are still put off by the time it takes to charge.
While most EVs now can charge (from 10 to 80 per cent) in less than an hour, with many of them now half an hour or less, it is still proving to be a sticking point for many who wish to have the convenience of being back on the road in the time it takes to refuel.
The new technology in Zeekr’s flagship 001 four-door coupe and shooting brake wagon seeks to address this. An updated version of the car now features a new 900-volt battery, which the brand claims can charge at over 1MW or 1140kW.
This allows its 95kWh NMC battery pack to charge (from 10 - 80 per cent) in just seven minutes, according to the brand, offering up to 810km of range at a full charge (via the more lenient CLTC cycle).
It is much faster than the benchmark for electric cars currently sold in Australia, which primarily includes the 800-volt Hyundai Group vehicles (such as the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV9) as well as a handful of 800-volt capable Volkswagen Group vehicles (the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan), which can charge at rates between 270 - 350kW on a compatible 800-volt charging station.
Even if the currently left-hand-drive only 001 was to launch in Australia, the charging stations may be the bottleneck for such a vehicle. While the Chinese market is currently rolling out stations capable of supporting 900-volt battery architectures and charging speeds of up to 1300kW, the array of charging stations in Australia remains limited to 800-volt stations capable of supporting only up to 350kW charging for the time being.
Elsewhere the updated 001 for the 2026 model year features new headlight designs, a tweaked grille and front bumper, upgraded driver assist features with a more powerful onboard processor and an expanded array of sensors, as well as new wheel designs and a split spoiler in the rear.
Inside it scores a 16-inch multimedia touchscreen, which like BYD products can rotate, as well as a 13.02-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch control panel for rear passengers. It features a 4680W 29 speaker sound system and fully reclining seats.
The 001 also features up to 680kW of power from its all-wheel drive motor layout, allowing it to sprint from 0-100km/h in 2.83 seconds, and is equipped with dual-chamber adjustable-height air suspension and electromagnetic dampers.
Zeekr has said in the past the 001 remains a left-hand drive offering for the time being as the brand’s low-riding halo model, but that’s not to say Australians won’t get a taste of the rest of the brand’s range.
The 7X mid-size SUV has just launched in Australia, and it may be followed by its lower-riding sedan sibling built in the same factory which in China is branded as the 007. The company has previously said this model is on the cards for Australia, although it may wear a different nameplate.
In addition, its halo SUV product, the massive 9X, which features a new plug-in hybrid powertrain also with a 900-volt archtiecture is seemingly on the cards to be built in right-hand drive.
It features an EV-sized 70kWh battery pack which can charge from 20 - 80 per cent in nine minutes on a compatible charger, and offers a range of 1250km when combined with petrol power from its 2.0-litre turbo engine.
In addition the brand also fields an unusual second people mover model, the Mix, although at this stage it is unclear if the brand will build it in right-hand drive to live alongside the luxurious 009 outside of China.
Stay tuned for more on Zeekr’s plans in Australia next year.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
