EV charging moves fast, sometimes literally. Here are six things that happened in the charging world this year that 5 years ago would’ve been unheard of.
1. A battery that charges in about the time it takes to order coffee
In April, battery giant CATL showed off a new version of its Shenxing LFP battery that it says can go from 10% to 98% in six minutes, and from 10% to 35% in as little as one minute. (Moderate temperatures required. It’s not quite ready for an Arizona summer.) It’s not in cars on U.S. roads yet, but it shows where the industry is headed: charging stops that are about as long as a gas stop.
2. A car that can take in 600 kW
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door EV claims a peak charging rate of up to 600 kilowatts. For perspective, a typical Level 2 workplace charger delivers somewhere around 7 to 19 kW. Of course, to actually see 600 kW you need a charger that can deliver it, which brings us to…
3. Walmart is building chargers at an almost daily clip
Walmart’s fast-charging network went from almost nothing to 986 charging stalls at 117 locations by the end of September, with more than 100 stations opened this year alone. In July it opened 27 stations in a single month, close to one a day. Each site uses 400 kW chargers with both CCS and NACS plugs, and the network was expected to cross 1,000 stalls in October.
4. Charging is cheaper after bedtime
At Walmart’s chargers, the average price is about $0.47 per kWh on-peak but just $0.29 off-peak, with overnight pricing at roughly two-thirds of locations. Time-of-use pricing isn’t new, but it’s a good reminder: when you charge can matter as much as where.
5. An airport charging hub with its own Uber lane
In Australia, BP Pulse just opened a 24-bay charging hub at Melbourne Airport with 150 kW and 300 kW chargers, drive-through bays for trucks and larger vehicles, and a dedicated bay just for Uber. Rideshare drivers are some of the highest-mileage EV owners anywhere, and charging sites are starting to be designed around them.
6. …and it’s already about to lose its title
That Melbourne hub is Australia’s biggest, but probably not for long. Plans have been filed for a 37-bay Tesla Supercharger site in Albury, New South Wales, estimated at A$3.5 million. The charging hub arms race is officially on.
Why any of this matters for your property
Underneath these numbers is a clear trend: drivers expect charging to be fast, reliable, and wherever they already spend their time. Whether that’s a 400 kW fast-charging hub or a few Level 2 ports for employees, the right setup depends on how long people stay at your site and what they drive.
Curious what makes sense for yours? Talk to EvolvedEV. We’ll help you pick the right equipment, and keep it running with Evolved360.
Sources
- EnergyNow: China’s CATL debuts EV battery with speedy six-minute recharge (April 2026)
- InsideEVs: These EVs have the highest claimed charging power in 2026
- EVChargingStations.com: State of Walmart EV Charging: October 2026 Update
- The Driven: Petrol retailer opens Australia’s biggest EV charging hub
Featured Image: Electrify America
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