WHAT IS 800V CHARGING &
WHY IT WAS DEVELOPED?
800V charging is an ultra-fast charging system where electric vehicles are
charged could be from 5% to 80% in less than 20 minutes. The charging
speed boils down to the kilowatt (kW) input capacity i.e. the maximum
amount of wattage it can transfer from the charger at once. For instance,
400V EVs can be charged at a pace of about 150 kW, but there are
currently 800V chargers that are even faster and have a 350 kW capacity
for recharging battery packs.
Now, 800V charging systems are incredibly quick due to the low
resistance to current flow, which results in less energy loss. Because an
800V charger can increase range by 62 miles in just 3 minutes, it
outperforms the 400V in terms of performance.
This "Range anxiety" has been one of the predominant issue with electric
vehicles. EV manufacturers continue to strive to pacify it by developing
larger & heavier battery packs that allow users to stay longer on the road
than on the charging station and due to which 800V charging system was
introduced.
HOW DOES 800 VOLTS
PERMITS RAPID CHARGING?
In the case of a 400V charging system, the heat generated
by DC fast chargers overheats batteries with 400V charging
system, which is why charge speeds drop off after 80%.
Now this challenge was addressed by modifying the way
the cells are connected inside the battery, which allows for
a lower current but a greater voltage to be employed. In an
800V battery, the cells are connected in series.
Another plus of 800V architecture is that charging cables
can be of the same size or even thinner because only the
voltage rises and not the current.
CAN WE EXCEED 800 VOLTS?
It is not impossible to achieve the charging speed more than 800V
but we should understand that 800V architecture is still in its early
stages. And only a limited number of auto manufacturers, namely
Audi, Porsche, Hyundai, and Kia, currently offer electric vehicles with
800V architecture. On the other side, Lucid Air has an intriguing 900V
architecture.
WHY ISN'T 800 VOLTS USED
EVERYWHERE?
It is not impossible to achieve the charging speed more than 800V
but we should understand that 800V architecture is still in its early
stages. And only a limited number of auto manufacturers, namely
Audi, Porsche, Hyundai, and Kia, currently offer electric vehicles
with 800V architecture. On the other side, Lucid Air has an
intriguing 900V architecture.
AUTO COMPANIES INVOLVED
Audi is in race with the Porsche Taycan with its eTron GT. The eTron will come with an 800v compliant battery that can hold
270kW. It will provide EV drivers with the desired range and extremely quick charging times.
BYD is unveiling the Blade battery, which can accept 800v. According to the organization, drivers can now charge a 90-mile
range in just 5 minutes. The manufacturer's 3.0 e-platform will include the battery that was unveiled in Shanghai.
The Porsche Taycan, which debuted in 2019, remains the most powerful EV on the road. Even though the battery is 800 volts
ready, only a select few EV chargers can handle the 270 kW of electricity required to fully charge the Taycan.
The Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled the Kia EV6. It has a battery that can withstand 800 volts and promises a charge speed
of 80% in ten minutes. Hyundai is also incorporating the 800v architecture on the Inoiq 5 in addition to the EV6.
ZF introduces 800-volt architecture for electric premium and sports car. At the core is power electronics using silicon
carbide as a semiconductor which is applied in the Formula E racing series. Silicon carbide components are used,
reducing internal switching losses in power electronics.
THE TOP 10 FASTEST-CHARGING EVs
LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN 800V CHARGING SYSTEM
Xpeng launches fastest charging electric SUV, with range of 700km. The Xpeng G9 is the first EV from the brand that is based on the 800V high voltage platform.
BMW to produce radically upgraded EV batteries in Hungary. New sixth-generation batteries will be used in
Neue Klasse EVs from 2025, including BMW i3 saloon. The
new batteries will function at up to 800V.
KIA announces electric EV6 GT and will offer a line-up of 14 EVs by 2027. It also has 800V charging technology, enabling it to recharge 70% of its battery in 18 minutes from an ultrarapid charger.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 to be launched at Auto Expo 2023. The Ioniq 5 will support superfast 800V charging which, technically, can charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes.
PATENT ACTIVITIES
Title : Charging system and method for charging a battery of an electric vehicle
Volvo Car Corp secured a patent (EP4001001A1) for an alternative charging system to enable the use of 400V fast-chargers with an 800V-battery electric vehicle
Title : Adaptive fast-charging of multi-pack battery system in a mobile platform having dual charge ports
GM Global Technology secured a patent
(US20220239114A1) for adaptive charging methodologies where high voltage level is at least 800V
Title : Electric drive system for a vehicle, as well as a method for operating an electric drive system
Mercedes Benz Group secured a patent
(DE102021003882A1). By using the two inverters of the proposed electric drive system, EVs with a voltage level of 800 volts can be charged efficiently.
