Tech Watch: Here are the top EV technologies this year

From the newsletter

BYD’s 1 MW charger, the world’s fastest charger, is the biggest EV technology leap this year, tripling the speed of the previous fastest charger. It can charge an electric car up to 80% in just five minutes, nearly the same time it takes to refuel a car at a service station. It leads the Mobility Rising technology tracker, which we update monthly. 

• Just five months into 2025, global EV companies are racing to outdo each other in the development of groundbreaking technologies, especially in vehicle charging, battery, vehicle speeds and performance, and software. While some of these technologies are improvements from existing one, others are entirely new, ushering in a new era of electric mobility.

• While these technologies are making a splash in the global EV market, Africa still lags behind, both in its capacity to develop its own innovations and ability to afford emerging top-of-the-range global technologies. Due to the small market size, Africa is often one of the last markets for EV companies to introduce their new models and technologies, which often takes years.

More details

• Two weeks after BYD's announcement of its breakthrough charger, fellow Chinese automaker Zeekr unveiled its own new EV fast charger capable of 1.2 MW. In April 2025, CATL, a leading battery manufacturer, announced the second generation of its Shenxing fast-charging battery technology, capable of a maximum power of 1.3 MW. Huawei has also entered the megawatt-level charging space, and is set to officially unveil its supercharger with a 1.5 MW peak output.

• Besides speed, we have also seen major developments in battery swapping technology, especially in China. The Asian giant is actively developing battery swap stations, with companies like Nio and CATL building extensive networks. In Africa, battery swapping is rapidly gaining traction for electric motorcycles, helping cut long charging times.

• Solid state batteries have garnered increased attention this year as potential successors of lithium-ion batteries. They are being marketed as having potential to revolutionise the EV market by offering extended ranges (over 1,000 km) and rapid charging (under 10 minutes). Automakers like Toyota, Nissan, and BMW are making substantial progress, with more expected to introduce solid-state battery-equipped EVs by 2026-2027. BMW Group and Solid Power are actively testing all-solid-state battery cells in a BMW i7.

• Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, which allows EV owners to sell energy back to the electric grid, creating additional value and improving grid stability, has grown rapidly this year, especially in developed markets like Europe and the US. South African startup Zimi Charge secured a grant of $0.3 million this year to pilot the viability of this technology for the first time in Africa.

• This year has also seen major progress in Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2X) communication, a wireless, two-way exchange of data between vehicles and road infrastructure. The technology enables vehicles to interact with traffic signals, road signs, lane markings, and other infrastructure elements to improve road safety, enhance traffic flow, and enable advanced transportation. 

• Most EV manufacturers are also integrating their systems with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the user experience, especially in autonomous driving. AI-driven perception systems process data from LiDAR, radar, and cameras to enable advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving features. This year, BYD partnered with DeepSeek, an AI startup, to develop and integrate advanced driver assistance systems, including self-driving capabilities, across their vehicle lineup. 

Our take

• African countries must prioritise domestic EV research and development to avoid prolonged dependence on imported technologies. Governments should invest in tech incubators and partnerships with global EV manufacturers to accelerate the creation of affordable, locally tailored solutions.

• Instead of waiting for high-cost megawatt chargers, Africa should focus on cost-effective, scalable solutions like battery swapping for motorcycles and public transport, alongside the deployment of solar-powered charging stations in rural areas.

• African countries must engage international investors and tech leaders to accelerate EV adoption, leveraging financing from development banks, impact investors, and infrastructure funds to make advanced charging and battery technologies more accessible.