BYD announced on Monday the launch of a new platform for electric vehicles, the “super e-platform”, that promises charging speeds comparable to refueling a petrol car. The company also revealed its plans to establish a comprehensive charging network across China.
Founder Wang Chuanfu, speaking at a livestreamed event from BYD’s Shenzhen headquarters, stated that the new platform will support a peak charging speed of 1,000kW. This capability would enable EVs using the platform to gain 400km of range with just a five-minute charge. This is twice as fast as Tesla’s superchargers, whose latest versions provide charging speeds of up to 500kW.
Fast-charging technology is viewed as essential to accelerating the adoption of EVs by easing drivers’ concerns about charging times. “To thoroughly address our users’ charging anxiety, we’ve been working towards minimizing EV charging times to match the refueling times of petrol vehicles,” Wang said. “This marks the first time the megawatt charging unit has been achieved in the industry.”
The new charging architecture will initially be available in two new EV models: the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV. These models are expected to be priced starting from C¥270,000 (approximately R675,000). BYD also stated it intends to build over 4,000 ultra-fast charging piles, or charging units, throughout China to support the new platform. The company has not yet disclosed a specific timeframe for the infrastructure rollout or the total investment involved.
Currently, BYD owners generally depend on charging facilities provided by other automakers or public charging stations managed by third-party operators. Tesla has operated its superchargers in China since 2014. Additionally, several smaller Chinese EV manufacturers, including Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Zeekr, have been actively investing in and developing their own charging infrastructure for several years.
BYD’s sales figures show a significant reliance on plug-in hybrids, with 4.2 million units sold last year. The company’s sales target for this year is between 5 and 6 million units.
— Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh, (c) 2025 Reuters
