800V car architectures are impressive as they address the significant challenge of enabling faster charging while preserving battery longevity. However, Hyundai appears to exaggerate their advantage through clever but questionable marketing tactics.
What is Charging Speed?
It is important to note that no electric vehicle consistently charges at its maximum advertised speed. Typically, maximum speed is only achieved when the battery is nearly depleted, and it generally only lasts for the initial 20% of the charge cycle, contingent upon optimal temperature conditions for both the battery and charger.
So, if a vehicle claims to support 200kW DC charging, it does not mean you can fully charge its 100kWh battery in 30 minutes from empty. In practice, the average charging speed may be around half that, resulting in a full charge taking over an hour.
If Others Do It, What's the Issue?
While most cars can reach their maximum charging speed temporarily, the Hyundai and Kia models will not achieve 350kW, even for a moment. These vehicles peak at just under 250kW, falling short of what the company implies they are capable of.
Are They Misleading Consumers?
While Hyundai is unlikely to publish outright false claims, they employ a strategy of listing charger specifications rather than vehicle capabilities. On Hyundai and Kia's websites, one can find references to "DC Fast Charge 50kW" and "DC Fast Charge 350kW."
While this phrasing is not technically incorrect, it strongly suggests that the vehicle could draw maximum power from a 350kW charger. In reality, this number would remain unchanged even with a 250kW charger, and it is hard to believe that an accomplished team of engineers is unaware of this discrepancy.
Hyundai's marketing language differs significantly from that of other manufacturers, further indicating a deliberate ambiguity. While not outright deceitful, the company presents inflated figures, allowing the press and potential buyers to propagate the misunderstanding.
Many reviewers have fallen for this marketing strategy, as verifying peak charging speeds can be quite challenging. Owner forums are replete with users convinced they can achieve 350kW speeds, blaming charging networks for any shortcomings.
Is 800V Technology No Better Than 400V?
Actually, it is superior. Referring back to the distinction between peak and average charging speeds, 800V vehicles can maintain peak rates, or close to them, for much longer periods—sometimes even after reaching 50% state of charge (SoC). This results in significantly shorter total charging times for the common 10-80% charge range compared to their 400V counterparts.
For real-world data, consider using our battery charging tool, which provides precise charging times for hundreds of cars, chargers, and charging percentages. This is invaluable for planning your next journey.
