Zeekr 7X News

Zeekr is warning of potentially long wait lists for its upcoming range of much-hyped cars, telling CarsGuide expressions of interest were building “faster than expected.” Speaking at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, Zeekr Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Frank Li said he was expecting there to be extended delivery times for the 7GT electric station wagon as well as the 8X and 9X large plug-in hybrid SUVs set to arrive in 2027 as the order banks grow in Australia and across the world. “We anticipate that 7GT might actually have a longer wait list than 7X did,” he said, adding “9X and 8X really have this huge interest. Every time I attend an event - even things not related to cars at all, I will have people try and place an order with me.” “The order bank is growing fast. Faster than we expected. There’s huge hype amongst our customers. We’re even seeing some families flying 8X across from China.” Li said the overwhelming reception to these new models in the markets they have already launched in, like the UAE and even the Chinese domestic market, was creating bottlenecks for the company. “It’s not just production capacity, but the whole supply chain. Shipping, logistics, even delivery centres can hold things up.” Li said that while the 8X and 9X “will bring Zeekr to the next level in Australia” in terms of volume, he warned availability would be severely limited. “I strongly recommend that buyers place a deposit if they want one. They need to make sure they are in that line so once the car is launched they can get into it as soon as possible.” The 7X mid-size SUV, which launched at an unprecedented price-point for a premium electric mid-sizer of $57,900, before on-road costs, rapidly became one of the fastest-selling EVs in Australia. By the end of August this year, it was the ninth best selling car in the country overall. However, some customers were left waiting some time for delivery as the brand struggled to keep up with demand. Li’s warning about potentially even worse wait times bodes well for the brand long-term, which is even more ambitious than it was when it arrived in Australia just two years ago. When asked if Zeekr could be the number one luxury brand in the country, leapfrogging once-favourites like Audi BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Li said recent developments make that a possibility, but sales targets aren’t his primary concern. “When we launched the brand, not just in Australia but globally, we were always hoping to become the best-selling premium EV brand, but with PHEV coming with 8X and 9X I think we can have some bigger ambitions of trying to become the best-selling premium brand,” he said. “But, apart from sales volume, it’s more important for us actually to have that customer satisfaction and the attitude toward the Zeekr brand. “If you were to ask me about what the brand looks like in three years I wouldn’t have a volume target to share with you, but after three years if we’re surveying customers when we ask about premium brands, Zeekr needs to be one of their top considerations. So this is more important than volume. That’s my target.” To that end, Li said the brand’s dealers would be asked to build a more premium experience in order to set Zeekr apart from its myriad of rivals and soon-to-arrive competitors like Avatr from Changan or Wey from GWM. “We’re not aiming for this big number of dealers, and for them to just change their logo and start selling cars. That’s not what we want, we want to build the customer experience properly.” He said the brand’s big investments in track events, dining and experiences were part of keeping its buyers engaged for longer “after we’ve handed over the keys”. It may even result in the Australian market scoring its own option packs, as the brand welcomes buyer feedback on track days and modifications. “Actually, we’ve already got customers showing us modifications they’ve done themselves,” Li said. “We’re developing some OEM-backed modifications for the Australian market. These are the kinds of lifestyle things we’ll be working on in the future.” Next for Zeekr is the launch of the 7GT which is expected to arrive before the end of 2026 with customer deliveries more likely for early 2027. The 9X three-row large plug-in will follow shortly afterwards, with the 8X due in the second half of 2027.

Electric cars are more reliable than petrol and diesel ones, according to a new study of almost 50 million vehicle roadworthy checks. It’s a topic of heated discussion all over internet forums: are EVs more reliable and lower maintenance than their combustion equivalents. A commonly held belief is that because electric cars have far fewer parts compared to petrol and diesel ones, there’s less to go wrong. That makes sense on the surface, but there could be actual proof now thanks to a study in the United Kingdom by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA). Vehicles in the UK that are more than three-years-old are required by law to pass a yearly roadworthy and safety check - also known as an MOT (Ministry of Transport) - to be registered. In NSW, vehicles older than five years need a roadworthy certificate - the equivalent of a British MOT. The MOT requires a thorough check of a vehicle’s brakes, tyres, wheels, steering, suspension, lights, windscreen wipers, body structure and emissions to ensure all are in safe working order. The BVRLA study found EVs are more durable over time, and as the age of combustion vehicles increases, so does the maintenance requirements. The study examined the 47.7 million vehicles that underwent a roadworthy and safety test for registration from 2024-2026. Specifically the study looked at test failure rates. This was also correlated with data from 863 million historical tests. The study found that in the first 32,000-97,000km there was very little difference in the failure rates of both EVs and combustion cars. The results revealed 12 per cent of EVs that attempted the test failed, compared to 11.7 per cent of combustion vehicles. After about 100,000km the results get interesting. EV failure rates plateaued at 16.5 per cent while the failure rate of combustion cars increased steadily. From 145,000km-193,000km the failure rate for EVs remained at 16.5 per cent but for combustion it was 22.1 per cent. Above 193,000km EV failure rate actually decreased to 16 per cent while combustion continued to rise to 23.5 per cent.   Combustion vehicles have about 20,000 moving parts in their drivetrain, and EVs have only about 20.  And while combustion engines have been developed over a hundred years to be super reliable, efficient and robust, the sheer number of metal and rubber components under the incredible heat and strain of constant use have a limited lifespan.  From pistons and crankshafts, transmissions and driveshafts, to the fuel and cooling systems, the brakes and exhaust, combustion cars work hard and wear out faster. Electric cars do have weaknesses - some highlighted by the findings of the study and some we know as motoring journalists. The study found tyres wear out 1.8 times faster on an EV than a combustion car. This could be down to a combination of a number of factors we know cause tyre wear such as the heavy weight of EVs and the colossal torque electric cars can send to their wheels. We also know that EVs tend to have more technical problems from software issues to battery fade. Another interesting takeaway from the study is older EVs are not disappearing from British roads, with 94.6 per cent of electric cars over 15 years old continuing to come back for their annual check 2.5 years later. That said, new EVs are arriving on the market with better electric architecture, which ensure not just better driving range but systems capable of handling faster charging. The 2026 Zeekr 7X for example has 800V architecture and a 100kWh battery, while the 2020 Nissan Leaf has 400V architecture and a 62kWh battery.  

To be honest I didn’t think this would happen so fast but it really does appear the end is nigh for the internal combustion engine in Australia, because for the first time sales of electric cars have overtaken petrol ones.  So how does Australia compare for EVs sales compared to the rest of the world? Australia is punching well above its weight.  Australia is ranked high when it comes to EV sales compared to the world, but wait until you see how high. Australians bought 27,089 electric vehicles in August, which represent 24.9 per cent of the market. Not included in this are hybrids or plug-in hybrids, and that makes this number even more significant. In comparison the total sales of petrol cars in August, including light commercial vehicles, came to 25,824. August’s sales came off the back of a bumper July total of 23,510, but they weren’t the largest recorded - that claim to fame goes to June with 32,570 sales.  August was a big month for EV sales in other parts of the world, too. Sales of EVs in France reached a record 38 per cent of the market or 36,159 electric cars. Quick reminder: Australia for the same month has 24.9 per cent and 27,089 electric cars. Let me also tell you that France is placed fourth in the world rankings for August EV sales. Of course this is nothing compared to China’s EV sales, which were approximately one million for August. Yes, China sold the same number of electric cars in August as the almost the combined sales of petrol, diesel, EV, and hybrids in Australia in any given year. With China in the No.1 place; in second place for August is Germany with 68,930 sales; then in third is the United States with about 65,000; then France with its 36,159; followed by the United Kingdom with 27,876; and then in sixth place is Australia with 27,089. We just missed out on being in the top 5 for August EV sales. Australia’s year-to-date battery electric vehicle sales through to the end of August come to 154,313. This places Australia in seventh place globally for the year so far, behind China in first place with approximately 6.06 million sales; then in second place is the US with about 500,000 sales; then Germany in third with 446,615; the UK is in fourth with 327,683; then France with 322,097; and then South Korea with 272,000. Petrol sales year to date have reached 243,673, which is 89,360 sales of the 154,313 EV sales. So while monthly sales of EVs are beginning to overtake petrol car sales, we won't see the electric car sales total for the year eclipse those of petrol in 2026. A recent report from the NRMA found there are approximately 500,000 EVs on Australian roads and this accounted for just three per cent of the total number of registered vehicles.  But as we have seen by the monthly figures EV sales are at a high level and staying high. The NRMA said by 2040 10 per cent of registered vehicles will be EVs, and modelling by the CSIRO predicts by 2050 97 per cent of all light passenger cars will be battery electric vehicles. The Tesla Model Y is not just the biggest selling EV, it's also is the best selling of all cars in Australia right now with 6414 sold in August. The BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV with 2213 sales is the fifth best-selling car in Australia, while the Zeekr 7X is in ninth place with 1748 sales.

The Zeekr 7X could be about to get a new addition to its Australian line-up, with reports of an 85kWh fast charging battery variant being added to the range. The news comes fresh out of China where government regulations require carmakers to publicly publish the specifications of upcoming vehicles.  Zeekr’s published filing details an upcoming rear-wheel drive 7X that is the same in every way to the current model, but will have a bigger 85kWh battery. It offers quick charging and impressive range, while keeping weight and cost down. The new 85kWh battery for the Zeekr 7X is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, up from the 75kWh unit in the current base 7X in Australia. Currently the 7X line-up consists of a 75kWh LFP battery variant and a 100kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery variant.  NMC batteries are more energy dense and heavy, but offer long ranges and more power. LFP on the other hand are more thermally stable, can handle being charged more often to 100 per cent and are cheaper as they do without certain rare metals such as cobalt. Zeekr hasn’t disclosed the range of the 85kWh battery, but it will fall between the 480km (WLPT) range of the 75kWh unit and the 615km (WLPT) of the 100kWh NMC battery. An electric vehicle with more than 500km of real world driving range is a preferable choice and the 85kWh battery is likely to offer this extra distance over the 75kWh variant. CarsGuide has reached out to Zeekr Australia to find out if and when the 85kWh variant will join the 7X line-up, but the company has yet to respond. As for the price Australians could expect this to fall between the $57,900 list price of the  75kWh 7X and the $63,900 of the 100kWh 7X.

Zeekr has heard your feedback and more of its cars will get tactile buttons and dials as it moves away from exclusively touchscreen-based controls. Speaking to CarsGuide at a 7GT pre-launch event, the head of the company’s design studio in Shanghai, Javier Garcia-Gallardo said more buttons were “definitely” something that will be put into its cars going forward. “For the 7GT’s predecessor, the 007 sedan, we didn’t have physical controls in the centre console. We got some feedback from the Chinese market back then, so when it came time to adjust it for the 7GT we knew it was something we had to change,” he explained. “They add more functionality for the driver, but also a richer interior feeling at the same time. When we move up the line-up to the bigger cars like the 8X and 9X you can see more physical buttons are coming - so we are taking that feedback on.” “Especially those more material customers who are looking at 8X and 9X, they appreciate those switches and buttons and not having to navigate through the touchscreen to adjust their seat or turn on message functions.” “So for those kinds of features you’re going to be using very often, we’ve made sure they have a switch.” Buttons or not, one thing that sets Zeekr apart from its parent brand, Geely, is its unique and decidedly flashier software suite. Something Garcia-Gallardo said has been a huge benefit for the design team to integrate better into the overall feel of its cars. “We have our own operating system exclusive for us and built from zero,” he said. “It’s taken a couple of years to get it where it is now, but we feel it’s at a point where it’s pretty good in the market. For sure, the design team has been one of the major stakeholders developing that. “Being a platform product, the operating system has over the air updates extremely often, so it takes us a lot of manpower to curate and maintain its constant evolution.” Garcia-Gallardo said Zeekr has evolved past its infancy as a spin-off from sister brand Lynk & Co, and it was set for some bigger changes as it aligns to a more global audience. He said it was a challenge to design for the huge Chinese audience, while catering for global tastes. “We need to design cars which appeal to all markets and balance those considerations and requirements.” “China is a big market for Zeekr, and one of the biggest overall markets in the world, so the demands of that market are extremely important, so we need to appeal to the Chinese market to keep growing and be financially stable.” “As we mature as a company though it’s very important we bring global demands and requirements into the design program at the beginning.” “This was happening less at the start because we didn’t have the same global footprint that we have today, but now that we have a stronger customer base we have a wider set of requirements.” He added customer and media feedback, as well as quirks of local market requirements like Australian Design Rules (ADRs) were “certainly part of my day-to-day design briefings”. ADRs saw the animated LED bar across the front of the car deleted from the 7X and 7GT for the Australian market. When asked how much freedom Zeekr’s designers have when it comes to its new models, Garcia-Gallardo said it was an essential pillar of the brand. “The company trusts a lot in design, especially when it comes to defining proportions of the car, and its architecture. I think that’s what makes a car feel special at first glance. It’s those proportions which makes it feel like it doesn’t simply land in mainstream territory.” He added Zeekr’s future updates and new-generation products would see its range more rationalised into its two main design languages, ‘Hidden Energy’ as worn by the 7X and 7GT, and ‘Powerful Elegance’ as worn by the 8X and 9X hybrid large SUVs. Design elements inherited from Lynk & Co, like the dual-DRLs still seen on the X small SUV and 009 people mover are set to be phased out over time. Zeekr leaps up the charts in Australia, almost entirely thanks to its smash-hit 7X mid-size SUV. It has brought the brand some much needed momentum, which it hopes will be realised with the arrival of the fully electric 7GT sporty station wagon before the end of the year, and the introduction of the 8X and 9X hybrid large SUVs in 2027.

Zeekr is storming up the charts in Australia, targeting luxury and mainstream rivals, proving Chinese brands can be more than just budget-oriented. While rival premium brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes have such distinctive designs tied to their identities though, you might have noticed Zeekrs all look a bit different. Explaining this quirk of the brand, the head of Zeekr’s design studio in Shanghai Javier Garcia-Gallardo explained why the company had such diverse designs in its portfolio, and how things were going to evolve going forward. “It’s to do with the evolution of Zeekr and how the brand was born,” he said. “You could say we’ve been through three main chapters - the first chapter is the vehicles with heritage from Lynk & Co like the 001, 009 and the X. They are vehicles which transparently were designed to be part of the Lynk & Co brand and transitioned across to the Zeekr brand. “But they weren’t fully there yet, the Zeekr X, for example, still has the dual DRLs from Lynk & Co.” Lynk & Co is Zeekr’s sister company, both premium marques under parent company Geely’s umbrella. Lynk & Co existed first, dating back to 2016, but it has now been re-organised to sit under Zeekr ownership. Zeekr’s first vehicle, the 001, was originally revealed as the Lynk & Co Zero concept in 2020, before Zeekr’s formation in 2021. “The second chapter is where we introduced the ‘Hidden Energy’ language.” Garcia-Gallardo continued, “This is for the 7GT, the 7X and the Zeekr Mix.” This design language originally debuted in 2023 on the 007 sedan on which the 7GT wagon is based. “It was the first exclusively Zeekr design.” Garcia-Gallardo said. “For this, we wanted a shift of mindset for the customer. We wanted it to be very progressive, targeting Generation Z. They are digital natives and perceive technology in the car in a different way from previous generations. “Chapter three is ‘Powerful Elegance’ - our first cars represented by this are the 8X and 9X. These vehicles are targeted at a more material customer and have more traditional automotive design cues, but you can also see some cues from the 009 as well. The grille is very dominant and gives a kind of architectural design to the cars.” Going forward, things are set to line up to the brand’s main two designs, with smaller vehicles to stick to the ‘Hidden Energy’ and larger ones to sport the ‘Powerful Elegance’ look. This is particularly because Zeekr intends to have a more distinctive and instantly-identifiable look going forward as it builds its recognition globally. “The market is flexible, but a consistent design language is important for brand awareness," Garcia-Gallardo said, “we’ve spent the last couple of years evolving and exploring these different languages for different customer bases. What you can expect to see is the design languages will get closer together. “They won’t be ultra-dogmatic between them though - you’ll see some features from the 9X for example being interpreted in a different way on the 7 series vehicles and vice versa. “One example is the detail line which follows the ambient light through the digital instrument panel across the dash from door to door. It’s not as clear on the exteriors yet, but you’ll start to see a bit of horizontality introduced across our model range going forward.” Garcia-Gallardo hinted at other changes and tweaks to the model range going forward, too, which would be based on global feedback as Zeekr becomes more of an international brand. As for the Lynk & Co and Zeekr split, the two could be thought of as the Chinese side of the Volvo/Polestar equation (two similar brands with different purposes), although Lynk & Co and its sportier and largely hybrid offerings remains squarely aimed at Europe where it is headquartered for the time being rather than right-hand drive markets like Australia. Instead, we’ll be an important export focus for the Zeekr brand, which is headquartered in China. A plan to re-badge certain Lynk & Co models as Zeekrs for markets like Australia has been reportedly cancelled, as each brand establishes its own identity. The pair continue to diverge in their design, with Lynk & Co models continuing ownership of the split-DRL design on the new 08 PHEV mid-sizer and 900 large PHEV SUV. Meanwhile Zeekr will power ahead with its more high-end offerings in Australia into 2027, with the 8X and 9X hybrids due here over the next year, adding to its current range which consists of the X small SUV, 7X mid-sizer, 009 people mover, and incoming 7GT station wagon, all for now as electric cars.

Aussie car buyers can’t get enough of the Tesla Model Y right now. Tesla’s mid-size SUV topped the sales charts for August 2026, fending off three Toyota models in the latest set of data.  Total car sales held relatively steady in August, with plenty of the usual players occupying the top spots.  Electric cars are also making an impact Down Under. Four electric-only models made featured in the top 10 last month. The Tesla Model Y surged to the top of the monthly standings once again, with 6414 sales as its new three-row Model Y L experienced sustained popularity. Combining sales of its Model 3 sedan, Tesla was the third best-selling brand in the country.  Toyota’s near 20,000 sales was the best out of any brand, and saw it occupy second, third and fourth on the standings.  Its new RAV4 continues to impress (5470), followed by the Hilux ute (4833) that now holds a healthy lead over its arch rival the Ford Ranger (2440).  Sales numbers start to drop off after the HiLux, with the Prado’s 2475 rounding out the top four.  The Ford Ranger ute experienced another decline in August 2026, falling to fifth position on the standings (2440). The Ranger has been the best-selling car in Australia for the last three consecutive years, but sales decreased in August 2026 by more than 50 per cent compared to August 2025.   The next five cars were from Chinese brands as they increased their grasp over the Australian market.  The BYD Sealion 7 mid-size SUV finished in sixth place (2213), followed by the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV (2012), with the Geely EX5 registering 1947 examples last month.  BYD may only have had one car in the top 10, but it was the second best-selling brand in Australia in August 2026. Key Tiggo 4 rival, the GWM Haval Jolion, sold 1891 units, while the Zeekr’s 7X sold 1748 units last month.  The Isuzu D-Max took out ninth spot for the month (1708), with the Hyundai Kona finishing off the top 10 with 1688 sales. 

The number of Australians willing to buy an electric car has increased dramatically, with now only 17 percent of people stating they wouldn’t consider an EV according to a report by the NRMA. Australian tastes are rapidly changing when it comes to how we want our vehicles powered. And while combustion vehicles still rule our roads with the majority of new cars bought still have petrol and diesel engines, the uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) is increasing. According to the NRMA’s latest Changing Gears report 31 percent of Australians in 2026 would consider a battery electric vehicle (BEV) compared to 20 percent in 2024. Additionally, consideration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) has increased from 41 percent in 2024 to 58 percent in 2026. The report also found that the number of Australians who would not consider an EV was now just 17 percent. The Changing Gears report found that lower prices of electric cars, better infrastructure and rising petrol costs were some of the main motivating factors for the change in attitudes towards EVs. “There’s no doubt 2026 has been the tipping point for EV adoption. More affordable vehicles, expanded charging infrastructure and government incentives have all helped move EVs into the mainstream,” NRMA CEO Julie Batch said. “At the same time, rising petrol prices and concerns about long-term fuel security have given consumers even more reason to consider an EV.”  The NRMA report found several barriers, both real and perceived, were preventing Australians from considering an electric car. Of the 17 percent of people who would not consider an EV, the biggest concern was battery life with 60 percent saying this was a major barrier; 56 percent also felt that driving range was also a substantial reason not to buy an EV; 54 percent saw charging time as a factor that put them off; and finally 52 percent also felt fire risk stood in the way of them purchasing an electric car. “Some of the concerns we see around battery health and safety don't reflect the reality of modern EVs, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. The challenge is helping Australians separate fact from fiction and to make decisions based on reliable information," Ms Batch said. “For example, independent battery testing is already widely available and can provide buyers with a clear picture of a battery's condition. When it comes to fires, EV battery fires are extremely rare and when charged correctly, there’s virtually zero fire risk.” The NRMA says that approximately 500,000 EVs are currently on Australian roads accounting for about three percent of the nation's entire number of registered cars. This number is expected to rise to approximately 10 percent by 2030, with CSIRO modelling  predicting that 97 percent of light passenger cars will be electric by 2050. Right now affordable Chinese EVs are proving hugely popular with Australians. Electric SUVs such as the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X are now more popular than past Aussie combustion favourites such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.

Zeekr has announced monthly sales figures for August, announcing that it has more than doubled its global sales footprint year-on-year. Up a massive 100.4 per cent year-on-year, Zeekr reports it has delivered 251,000 vehicles, with monthly sales volume for August coming to 36,981 units. The growing luxury arm of Geely, Zeekr says it has now cumulatively sold nearly 900,000 units worldwide since its inception in 2021. This is an important milestone for Geely, as the higher pricing and margin of Zeekr vehicles is dragging up the brand’s average sale price in an environment where China’s automakers are seeking better profits after a bruising price war in the domestic market. The average sale price for a Zeekr vehicle is reportedly 370,000 RMB (A$77,090) and is an important factor in dragging the average sale price up for the entire Geely Group. Highlights for the year so far shared by Zeekr include over 200,000 global orders for the 7X mid-size SUV, and the Zeekr 9X large SUV becoming the best-selling SUV above the A$100,000 mark in China. In addition, the 009 people mover is now the best-selling luxury electric people mover in several markets, while the 7GT, soon to go on sale in Australia, is moving over 10,000 units a month globally. Zeekr has experienced explosive growth in Australia over the course of 2026, led primarily by its 7X, which until the end of July has clocked 7424 registrations. This has made it one of the best-selling electric cars in the country, ranking only behind more mainstream offerings like the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y. Zeekr will no doubt be expecting a bumper year in 2027, as well, as it adds the 7GT electric station wagon to the range as a new rival to the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3 before the end of the year, with the 8X large SUV and 9X flagship, both as plug-in hybrids, also set to join the line-up in 2027. For Geely’s part, it has also experienced massive growth in Australia, moving over 14,000 units so far in 2026, despite only having a two-model range. The keenly-priced EX2 hatchback has just joined its range, with the Emgrand sedan and possibly the Monjaro upper mid-sizer set to join the range next year as hybrid options. The company has big global aspirations to double its export sales in 2027. Doing so in Australia would put the brand in the same stead as other Chinese success stories like BYD, Chery and GWM. But Geely’s Australian CEO Alex Gu told CarsGuide earlier this year that the company would continue its measured approach in Australia, despite its early success. “Success isn’t just the volume booming,” he said, “success is also customer satisfaction and dealer satisfaction.” “We’ve only launched two models and for example other brands have launched 10 models. “Of course, they have been in the marke longer, but even with two models you can see we only try to bring ‘star’ models into each segment. “From my perspective, 1000 a month is a milestone for a new model, especially in mainstream segments.” He said the company’s ultimate target was to be a global top-five player, and that in export markets like Australia the goal was to be “the number one Chinese brand.” From there it was a matter of challenging “the global top three.” Stay tuned for more on Zeekr’s new model roll out, as well as more on Geely’s plans for 2027.

Chinese car maker Geely says it’s about to smash the 5.5-minute electric car charging time record with a battery breakthrough, but there’s a catch. Geely has announced it has developed a 1000V electric architecture for its vehicles which will allow charging from 10-80 per cent in less than 5.5 minutes, as it chases BYD and its advanced 'flash charging' technology. EV batteries can only charge as quickly as the vehicles electrical components will allow it to. Currently the standard is 400V and you'll find this in vehicles such as Tesla's Model Y and Toyota's bZ4X. Some car makers offer higher voltage systems with up to 800V architecture such as in the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Zeekr 7X. Think of voltage like water pressure, the higher the voltage the quicker charge can be added to a battery with less current. Of course all of the pipes (electrical hardware) need to be upgraded to handle the pressure. Currently the limit is about 900V but BYD and Geely are racing to get to 1000V and beyond. Nobody likes to wait, and right now the long EV charging times are one of the main barriers for consumers looking at buying an electric car. The race is on to bring EV charging down to the same time it takes to fill up the tank of a petrol or diesel vehicle which is approximately two minutes using a standard service station fuel pump and 65L tank. Geely says its 1000V electrical architecture will allow cars to top-up from 10-80 percent in under 5.5 minutes. That’s a record for the industry. Currently BYD is the title holder with its flash charging technology which it claims can fill from 10-70 percent in five minutes. Sure, it’s not quite the two minutes it takes to fill up with petrol, but with both brands in this quick-charging dogfight it won’t be long before one of them, or another brand (Chery perhaps) is claiming the achievement. The catch is that achieving these record fast changing times requires more than just the car with 1000V architecture and EV owners already know what we’re talking about - the charger itself. Geely is beginning to roll out 1500kW chargers in China and it’s only by using these ultra fast chargers with the 1000V architecture that these cars can achieve the claimed charging times. Typically in Australia public fastest chargers range from 50kW-350kW with 400kW now also appearing. Even in China 1500kW chargers aren’t at very common and filling at under 5.5 minutes is not going to be accessible to everyone. Geely appears to be future-proofing its cars to ensure their cars can take advantage when the infrastructure arrives.   Currently in Australia Geely uses 400V architecture in the EX5 mid-sized SUV but it also owns Zeekr and the 7X mid-sized electric SUV has an 800V system. According to Zeekr the 7X will fill from 10-80 percent in 13 minutes if a 400kW charger is used.