Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is pushing the boundaries of battery technology and EV charging with an upcoming rollout of 1,000kW charging capabilities in two new all-electric models: the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV, due later this year.
Unprecedented Charging Speeds
The ‘Super e-Platform,’ as BYD calls it, boasts a charging voltage of up to 1000V and a current of 1000A. This far surpasses the 800V architecture currently at the forefront of EV charging technology. Paired with a 1 megawatt (1MW) charging station, BYD claims the ‘flash-charge’ battery will provide an impressive 249 miles of range in just five minutes of charging.
According to Car News China, the Han L EV will use an 83.2 kWh lithium ion phosphate battery pack, capable of exceeding 430 miles on a single charge. It includes a new electric motor operating at up to 30,511 rpm – the highest revving motor in production.
In all-wheel-drive Han L and Tang L models, dual motors with a combined output of 1084bhp will be used. BYD claims this will enable the Han L sedan to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 2.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 190mph.
Pre-sales for both the Han L and Tang L models have already commenced in China, with prices ranging from approximately $37,000 to $40,000, depending on the specific model.
Infrastructure Investments
To support the rollout of its high-speed charging technology, BYD has committed to constructing over 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations across China. This investment aims to provide Han L and Tang L owners with convenient access to the revolutionary charging speeds.
Details such as the design of these charging stations, whether they will require liquid-cooled charging cables or the required substation setups to safely deliver the 1MW of power, remain unconfirmed. No timeframe for the completion of this charging infrastructure has been released.
During a recent launch event, BYD founder Wang Chuanfu stated, “This is the first time in the industry that the unit of megawatt has been achieved on charging power.” During testing, the charging station reached 1MW within 10 seconds and charged vehicles from 7% to 50% in 4.5 minutes, according to Electric Cars Report.
Market Context
Recently, reports surfaced suggesting a decline in Tesla’s dominance within the Chinese EV market. Deliveries from its Shanghai factory have fallen to their lowest levels in more than two and a half years. Tesla’s slower pace of innovation and reluctance to update its existing models appear to be impacting sales, leaving space for Chinese automakers such as BYD and Xiaomi to gain ground.
While Tesla’s V4 Supercharger network in the US is capable of delivering speeds up to 325kW, benefitting only Cybertruck owners currently with the 800V architecture, BYD’s offering is on another level. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has mentioned potential 500kW charging speeds for the latest generation Supercharger network, but it is still only half of what BYD is proposing.
