New 600kW charging tech will charge EVs in just 10 minutes

A brand new charging architecture headed for the UK introduces public charging speeds of up to 600kW, meaning topping up a large 80kWh battery electric car could take just 10 minutes.

The new technology, named the ChargePoint Express Grid, has been developed by American EV charging provider ChargePoint in collaboration with power management company Eaton. It offers ultra-fast public charging with speeds that exceed even those of the fastest charging electric cars on sale today. 

Its aim is to create a solution for current grid constraints, which requires the constant upgrading of charging infrastructure to ensure it remains up-to-date with the growing number of EVs entering the market. By introducing speeds faster than what any mainstream electric car can facilitate now, the architecture is prepared for the future when charging speeds evolve and become faster.

For example, the current fastest charging models in the UK are the MG IM5 and IM6, which can charge at speeds of up to 396kW. Most electric cars, especially those which are more affordable like the Fiat 500e or Renault 5, generally have maximum rates between 50kW and 150kW.

The new tech will charge at rates of 600kW which should allow it to complete a 20-80% top-up of an 80kWh battery in just 10 minutes. For example, the Kia EV6 has a battery of that size, and it can charge at speeds of up to 256kW. It’s currently rare to find public chargers that can facilitate those speeds, but at its quickest, the EV6 can top up in 18 minutes. That means, with the Chargepoint Express Grid, charging time would be almost halved.

The Chargepoint Express Grid will be integrated into a number of low-cost products in the second half of 2026 for use in public charging stations and for fleets. These chargers will be modular, meaning it’ll be easy to expand them and add more.

The new tech will benefit from vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capability, which allows it to help balance the National Grid by feeding stored energy back from plugged-in car batteries at periods of high demand. According to ChargePoint, the tech turns EVs into a ‘portable battery’, with cars able to power home electricity should the grid go down during stormy weather.

Recharging costs should also be reduced, since the tech minimises waste energy that often occurs as a result of AC-DC conversion – which should be very attractive for fleets.

The Chargepoint Express Grid will debut next month and will first be available in North America and Europe, with deliveries beginning in the second half of 2026.

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