Imagine plugging in an electric car and getting enough charge to go from 10% to 70% in less than four minutes. That is what a new battery-charging technology developed by Moroccan scientist Rachid Yazami has achieved in tests. Singapore-based company KVI, founded by Yazami, says its technology charged a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell from 10% to 70% in 3.7 minutes. It also charged the battery from empty to full in seven minutes.
The company said the battery temperature remained below 50C throughout the tests, addressing one of the main challenges of ultra-fast charging: the heat generated when large amounts of electricity are pushed into a battery in a short time.
The technology, known as Non-Linear Voltammetry (NLV), adjusts the voltage according to how the battery responds during charging. It is designed to speed up charging while monitoring battery health and detecting possible internal short circuits.
“The challenge is not simply to push more electricity into a battery in less time,” Yazami said. “It is to understand how the battery responds during charging and use that information to deliver energy more effectively.”
Yazami is known for pioneering the graphite anode, a key component used in modern lithium-ion batteries. He developed the new charging technology to make batteries charge faster without compromising their condition.
The breakthrough comes as carmakers race to reduce the time drivers spend charging electric vehicles.
Chinese manufacturer BYD announced in March that its system could charge a battery from 10% to 70% in five minutes. KVI’s reported time of 3.7 minutes is faster, although the two companies’ results have not been independently compared under identical testing conditions.
The technology uses lithium iron phosphate batteries, commonly known as LFP. They have become popular in electric vehicles because they are generally cheaper and considered safer than batteries that use nickel, manganese and cobalt. However, they store less energy for their size, which can limit how far a vehicle travels on a single charge.
The global LFP battery market is estimated to be worth $22.66bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach $81.74bn by 2035, according to the figures provided.
KVI is preparing to bring its technology to market, with electric vehicles among its main targets.
The company is also exploring its use in electric aircraft. On 28 October 2026, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese aircraft developer SkyDrive to study ultra-fast charging applications.
The technology could be particularly useful for electric air taxis, which need to recharge quickly between flights to carry more passengers throughout the day.
SkyDrive’s SD-05 aircraft has an estimated operating range of 15 to 40km. Short charging times could help the company reduce the time its aircraft spend on the ground.
SkyDrive completed demonstration flights of the SD-05 over Tokyo in February 2026 and is targeting commercial operations and serial production in Japan in 2026-27.
For the electric aviation industry, the ability to recharge in minutes rather than much longer periods could help address one of the main challenges facing commercial air taxis.
