BYD Revolutionizes EV Charging with Super-Fast Technology
Charging an electric vehicle has long been a significant concern for prospective buyers. The process, often time-consuming, involves finding compatible chargers and waiting for batteries to replenish. Many electric vehicle manufacturers and battery developers have been working for years to enhance charging technology to reduce EV refueling times to match traditional gasoline vehicles.
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is making significant strides in this area and has announced a breakthrough that could revolutionize EV charging. The company’s new Super e platform is designed to provide charging speeds comparable to what drivers experience at the pump.
BYD’s new technology boasts batteries that support 1MW of power, which translates to 1,000kW or the capability to handle 1,000V and 1,000A. This is welcome news for EV enthusiasts eager for faster charging times.
This technology requires a new infrastructure, so it will not be available in existing models. It will be featured in BYD cars launching this year, including the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV.
The new technology will allow drivers to replenish their vehicles with a charge that provides a range of 400km (approximately 250 miles). However, a full battery charge will require more time at the charging station. According to New Mobility, the BYD Han L has a CLTC range of up to 701km, nearly double the range provided by a 5-minute charging session. The BYD Tang L is also impressive, offering a rated range of up to 670km.
These rapid 5-minute charging sessions, yielding 400km of range, could provide significant peace of mind for drivers on longer trips.
“In order to completely solve our user’s charging anxiety, we have been pursuing a goal to make the charging time of electric vehicles as short as the refuelling time of petrol vehicles,” BYD founder Wang Chuanfu said at a launch event, per Reuters. “This is the first time in the industry that the unit of megawatt (charge) has been achieved on charging power.”
In comparison, Tesla’s fastest charging speed currently provides about 275km, or 170 miles, in 15 minutes, as noted by Gizmodo. This still requires a longer charging period to fully restore the range.
An essential factor impacting fast battery charging is the existing infrastructure. The batteries utilized in the new BYD Han L and Tang L models can’t reach that 1MW charging speed without adequate charging stations. BYD plans to build over 4,000 ultra-fast charging units across China, but the rollout timeline for this project remains unclear. It’s also uncertain which other markets will get comparable fast-charging stations to serve future BYD cars and other EVs with similar charging requirements.
The Han L and Tang L models, which support the 5-minute charging speeds, might be available in certain markets before the infrastructure is fully established. In China, the BYD Han L starts at 270,000 yuan ($37,340), while the Tang L starts at 280,000 yuan (€38,723).
