Electric vehicle (EV) owners could soon experience a significant shift in charging times due to a new breakthrough by BYD, a Chinese competitor to Tesla.
According to tests, BYD’s Han L sedan reduced the required charge time to between five and eight minutes.
BYD, China’s largest EV maker, has introduced a new fast-charging system that aims to fully charge a car battery in just five to eight minutes. Wang Chuanfu, the BYD chairman and founder, stated that this new technology would address “users’ anxiety over charging.” It is seen as a crucial step toward their goal of making EV charging times as short as refueling times for gasoline vehicles.
This system is more than twice as fast as Tesla’s superchargers, which can add up to 170 miles of range in 15 minutes. The new BYD fast-charger provided a range of 292 miles during tests with the company’s Han L sedan, according to Mr. Wang.
This advancement could potentially eliminate “charge rage,” a common frustration among EV drivers caused by long waiting times at charging stations. The issue has become so prevalent that some motorway service stations have had to employ marshals to help maintain order as drivers queue for access to Britain’s 73,000 charging points.
The unveiling of this new technology caused shares in BYD to jump by 4.1% in Hong Kong, closing at a record high on Tuesday, while Tesla’s shares dropped by 4.7%.
This breakthrough further intensifies the rivalry between the two companies, both vying for the title of the world’s leading EV company. Last year, BYD surpassed Tesla in production, producing 1,777,965 battery-powered EVs compared to Tesla’s 1,773,443.
BYD also surpassed Tesla in British sales for the first time last month, with sales growing by 500% in the year to January, while Tesla experienced an 8% drop in sales. Tesla has faced some backlash over Elon Musk’s close ties to Donald Trump. Since their peak in December, Tesla shares have dropped by 50%.
BYD’s new “Super e-Platform” offers charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), which is twice as fast as the 500 kW offered by Tesla’s latest charger. The Chinese company plans to install more than 4,000 of these new stations across its home market.
Despite BYD’s faster charging capabilities, Tesla currently has a larger global network of over 65,000 superchargers.
The new charging architecture will initially be available for BYD’s two new EVs: the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV, which are priced from 270,000 yuan (£28,700).
Lei Xing, a China motoring analyst, stated that BYD is “elevating the game to another dimension.”
James Court of Octopus Electric Vehicles said: “The Chinese EV market is growing at a staggering rate. Their relentless focus on investment in new technology is breaking down barriers for drivers making the switch to cleaner, cheaper driving.”
