BYD’s Lightning-Fast Charging: A Game Changer for EVs?
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has announced a new charging technology that could dramatically reduce charging times for EVs.
BYD’s “flash charging” system is designed to allow drivers to add up to 470 kilometers (292 miles) of range in just five minutes. This is a significant improvement over current charging times, making it comparable to the time it takes to fill a gasoline car.
The new technology utilizes a network of ultra-fast charging devices capable of delivering charging speeds of 1,000 kW (1 megawatt). This is twice as fast as Tesla’s Superchargers, which offer up to 500 kW. According to BYD, testing demonstrates the battery maintaining high charging power, achieving up to 600kW even when at 90% charged.
BYD founder Wang Chuanfu stated that the new technology has the potential to “fundamentally solve users’ charging anxiety”. He added, “Our pursuit is to make the charging time of electric vehicles as short as the refuelling time of fuel vehicles.”
Shares in the Chinese EV giant surged after the announcement of its new technology. While details on the new battery’s capacity and weight are still unavailable, BYD claims it has achieved a 10C charging multiplier.
BYD, the world’s second-largest producer of battery electric vehicles in 2024, plans to build more than 4,000 supercharging stations across China to support the new battery technology. The company also sells hundreds of thousands of plug-in hybrids.
BYD is often compared to Tesla, with founder Wang Chuanfu often cited as China’s answer to Elon Musk. Wang began his career as a battery maker in 1995, before beginning car manufacturing in 2003.
Volkswagen and Jetta to Target the Chinese Market
In related news, Volkswagen and Jetta have announced plans to introduce 11 new motors by 2026, specifically designed for the Chinese market. The new motors will include six EVs, two plug-in hybrids, two extended-range vehicles, and one gasoline motor. The Jetta-branded EV is slated for release in 2026.
Volkswagen is facing increased competition in China with the company experiencing a 9.5% sales slump in China, compounded by economic headwinds impacting consumer spending.
Some experts have suggested that the current dominance of Chinese EV manufacturers is partly due to the faster production of affordable cars.
As one car expert told The Telegraph, “Chinese brands are super competitive. For example, you can already pick up a new MG5 today for under £20,000 by shopping around. Where will they be in three years’ time? VW really has its work cut out.”
MoD Leases Chinese EVs
The UK Ministry of Defence is increasingly adopting Chinese electric vehicles. Hundreds of EVs have been secured to help the MoD meet its Net Zero goals. Additionally, thousands more EVs have been ordered to aid updating the MoD’s fleet of 12,000 civilian cars within the next two years.
