Hold on, why does Norway get the world’s fastest EV charger!?

The Terra 360 can fully charge EVs in less than 15 minutes

How fast is the Terra 360 really?

ABBintroducedthe charger in September, promising a 360kW maximum output — hence the name. According to the company, this kind of power enablesEVsto fully charge in less than 15 minutes, and get a 100km-range boost in less than three.

That’s pretty impressive, considering that the mainstream 50kW rapid chargerenbles a full charge in about an hour, or that Tesla’s current Superchargersdeliver a maximum 250kW output(approximately 321km of juice in 15 minutes).

Nevertheless, ABB is facing some serious competition, with numerous providers, such asIonity, offering 350kW ultra-fast chargers.

There’s also a catch. Electric cars on the road wouldn’t be able to take full advantage of the 360kW power, as their batteries’ charging capacity is well below that limit. This means they can only charge at the fastest rate their batteries can safely handle.

That’s why the Terra 360 is being introduced as a “future-proof” solution. With the advancement of EV battery technology, ulltra-fast chargers like it could actually play a pivotal role in lessening range anxiety and boosting the appeal of electric cars.

Plus, ABB has an ace up its sleeve in the meantime.

The Terra 360 can simultaneously charge two vehicles with dynamic power distribution — for example, one at 250kW and the other at 110kW. There’s also the option to use the charger with two additional charging outputs (one DC and one AC), enabling users juice up four EVs at the same time.

Norway has been evolving as an EV forerunner in the past few years. Hell, it’s the first nation to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles as early as 2025.

The Scandinavian countryhas the most electric cars per capita in the world, with EVs accounting for 65% of the total car sales in 2021. That’s both due tothe appealing incentives it offersand the well-developed supporting infrastructure — for instance, thegovernment has already establishedfast-charging stations every 50kmon all main roads.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that companies within the electric vehicle industry are using the country as a test zone.

ABB expects a more widespread roll out of its charger across Norway and Sweden, seeking to prove that its technology can perform under extreme weather conditions.

You can find out more about Terras 360’s specs in the video below:

Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou

Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili(show all)Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Also tagged with

More TNW

About TNW

Why is Norway getting the Terra 360 first?

Norway has been evolving as an EV forerunner in the past few years. Hell, it’s the first nation to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles as early as 2025.

The Scandinavian countryhas the most electric cars per capita in the world, with EVs accounting for 65% of the total car sales in 2021. That’s both due tothe appealing incentives it offersand the well-developed supporting infrastructure — for instance, thegovernment has already establishedfast-charging stations every 50kmon all main roads.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that companies within the electric vehicle industry are using the country as a test zone.

ABB expects a more widespread roll out of its charger across Norway and Sweden, seeking to prove that its technology can perform under extreme weather conditions.

You can find out more about Terras 360’s specs in the video below:

EU’s EV battery ambitions hang in the balance

Why the EU is imposing maximum tariffs of 36.7% on Chinese EVs

Discover TNW All Access

First demo vehicle from ‘factory in a box’ heralds new production model for EVs

Inside Arm’s vision for the ‘software-defined vehicle’ of the future