Tesla’s most popular electric vehicle, Cybertruck, recently made headlines by achieving record-breaking charging speeds. HuntinSpeed, a Slovakian news outlet, first reported this news, which Ondrej Bacina shared on X.
The vehicle has achieved an astonishing peak charging speed of 405kW, which translates into an impressive 1,030 miles per hour of range recovery under optimal conditions. This innovative achievement is a major advancement in the new generation of fast-charging battery technology and places Cybertruck at the forefront of the EV market regarding range and power replenishment efficiency.
Tesla Cybertruck Sets Record with 405kW Peak Charging Speed
The charging test was done on an imported Tesla Cybertruck at a newly inaugurated 600kW charging station in Bratislava, Slovakia. Cybertruck was connected to the charging station with a maximum output of 600 kW. The station has been opened by Ejoin which is a part of Slovakia’s effort to improve the infrastructure of charging stations for EVs.
For the purpose of the test, the Cybertruck had only 7% of battery capacity to start the charging process. During the initial charging stage, the vehicle reached its peak charging power of 405.3kW. This impressive rate was recorded at a voltage of 814 volts, showing that the vehicle is capable of handling high-voltage charging.
Tesla Cybertrick Peak Charging
However, this peak charging power was maintained for a few seconds only before tapering off. After approximately three minutes, the charging speed dropped to around 300kW, and after six minutes it dropped again to above 250kW. By the time the battery reached 99% charge, the rate had decreased to just 32kW.
As a result of this charging session, the Tesla’s Cybertruck only took 1 hour and 2 minutes to go from 5% to 100% of full charge. This indicates that while the peak performance is impressive, the overall efficiency and consistency during the full charge cycle are less due to rapid tapering.
Cybertruck’s ability to reach such high charging rates suggests that it can potentially support even faster charging speeds in the future. Tesla has suggested that the Cybertruck might be built to support as much as 640 kW of charging while there are no existing practical implementations of this claim yet.
As of now, Tesla’s Supercharger network slows down Cybertruck charging to 250 kW, which is much less power than seen in this latest trial. This limitation is the case where, although the Cybertruck can achieve higher charging speeds it is restricted by existing infrastructure.
Competition With Other EVs
Tesla’s biggest competition is with the Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla uses probably the most sophisticated fast-charging technology in the world, the latest V4 Superchargers can give a peak power of 405 kW. This allows Tesla themselves, and their Cybertruck, to charge at rates that are north of 1,000 miles per hour.
At the same time, Chinese electric car makers such as NIO, XPeng, Xiaomi, GAC Aion, and Zeekr are also experimenting with charging times through rapid charging technology. For example, GAC Aion adopted a charging infrastructure of up to 480kW power letting some of their EVs recharge for about five minutes to add approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) of range.
China’s development is backed by Government policies and a highly developed charging infrastructure which ensures a fast pace of utilisation. While Tesla is today at the forefront of global infrastructure acceptance, Chinese players are developing faster charging rates and battery replacement methods, increasing market competition.
The market competition between Tesla and Chinese companies like Zeekr and Xiaomi aims to capture market share through innovative technologies and competitive pricing.
Conclusion
The high charge rate of 405 kW which was set by Tesla Cybertruck demonstrates how it is engineered to achieve rapid charging. At the same time, the tapering of the charging curve poses more concern about its real effectiveness than other electric automobiles available for sale. As Tesla invests in Supercharger systems and might create more powerful stations in the future, the charging rates and overall efficiency for the Cybertruck or any other Tesla model might be improved.
