FAW battery test hits 10% to 70% in 3 minutes 41 seconds
Hongqi and Lishen say their new 12C cell can almost fill in eight minutes, but the test result is only the beginning of the real-world story.
China's fast-charging race has another serious entry. FAW Group testing reported by CarNewsChina showed a new Hongqi and Lishen battery charging from 10% to 70% state of charge in 3 minutes 41 seconds at 25°C. The same test reached 97% in 8 minutes 3 seconds.
How FAW says it got there
The battery reached a claimed peak rate of 12C. FAW attributes the result to an ultra-fast-charging anode, a low-desolvation-energy electrolyte and coating and doping changes that cut internal resistance by 15% against comparable cells. An active liquid-cooling system kept the temperature spread across the pack within 3°C, while software adjusted the power curve against cell voltage and temperature limits.
- 10% to 70% state of charge: 3 minutes 41 seconds.
- 10% to 97%: 8 minutes 3 seconds.
- Peak rate: a claimed 12C under a 25°C test condition.
- Pack temperature difference: held within 3°C during charging.
The missing numbers matter
FAW has not yet attached the result to a named production car, pack capacity or public charger specification. There is also no long-term cycle-life or cold-weather dataset in the announcement. Those details decide whether a spectacular cell test becomes a repeatable road-trip experience—and whether the battery can retain useful capacity after years of ultra-fast sessions.
Treat 3m41s as a verified test result, not a charging promise for a showroom car. Vehicle power electronics, charger output, temperature and the battery's long-term durability still have to line up.
More from EVRadar
NewsJuly EV sales jump across the UK, France and Ireland
Three fresh national datasets tell the same story: battery-electric registrations accelerated sharply in July, even though each market got there differently.
NewsCalifornia puts a $3,500 first-EV rebate at the dealer
The MyFirstEV programme doubles state money with automaker funding, turning the incentive into an instant discount instead of a later tax claim.
NewsElectric Lexus LFA Concept finally moves at Goodwood
Lexus gave its camouflaged battery-electric supercar its first public high-speed runs, while keeping the specifications that matter under wraps.