Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer NIO has unveiled a revolutionary charging system that delivers ultra-fast 500kW charge, significantly cutting down on idle times for EV drivers. The new charging architecture can recharge an EV from 10-80% in just 12 minutes, making it one of the fastest chargers on the market. The charger is also available for use by non-NIO EVs and has a maximum current output of 660A.

NIO’s ultra-fast 500kW charger changes the game for EV market

According to NIO, the 500kW charging system can charge a vehicle built on the 800V platform at a faster pace than EVs from the 400V platform. It takes up to 20 minutes to achieve 80% charging for 400V EVs and just 12 minutes for 800V models. This makes the charger particularly useful for EV drivers who need a quick charge while on long journeys or during busy periods.

The ultra-fast charger has a 15.6-inch display and uses proprietary liquid-cooling technology, which allows the weight of the charging cable to be significantly reduced. This makes it easy for users to operate the charger with one hand. The 500kW charger is among the highest capacity chargers announced for EVs so far, with Chinese firm XPeng releasing a 480kW charging system earlier this year.

In addition to the new charging system, NIO is also expanding the capacity of its battery swap stations. The upgrade will allow the stations to accommodate up to 408 battery swaps per day and operate 21 batteries at a time. This will further improve the convenience and speed of the charging process for EV drivers.

The new 500kW battery charger and upgraded swap stations will be available in March 2023, according to NIO. The company’s charging network is open to all brands of vehicles, with around 80% of power provided going to more than 110 non-NIO brands, including BYD, Tesla, XPeng, and Li Auto. This makes NIO’s charging infrastructure an attractive option for EV drivers who may not be driving a NIO vehicle.

NIO’s new 500kW charger is a major development in the world of EVs and will no doubt be welcomed by drivers who are looking for fast and convenient charging options. The company’s expansion of its battery swap stations is also a positive move that will further improve the charging experience for EV drivers. With the charger and upgraded swap stations set to be available in March 2023, it won’t be long before EV drivers are able to take advantage of these exciting new developments.