EnergyWhat Range Anxiety? These Chinese Electric Cars Charge in Just Five Minutes
Electric vehicle (EV) technology continues to advance rapidly, but one persistent challenge remains: the time it takes to recharge. However, Chinese automaker BYD may have found a solution, unveiling an ultra-fast charger that promises to alleviate “range anxiety” – the fear of running out of battery power – by offering charging speeds nearly equivalent to filling a gas tank.
Currently, the average EV manages about half the range of a gasoline-powered car. Public chargers are also less common than gas stations and take significantly longer to charge a vehicle. These factors contribute to “range anxiety,” a major impediment to the widespread adoption of EVs. While fast chargers exist, delivering around 200 miles of range in about fifteen minutes, consumers still face limitations.
BYD’s new charger aims to address these concerns directly, capable of adding 249 miles of range in a mere five minutes. The company plans to install over 4,000 of these chargers throughout China.
“In order to completely solve our users’ charging anxiety, we have been pursuing a goal to make the charging time of electric vehicles as short as the refueling time of petrol vehicles,” said Wang Chuanfu, BYD founder, at a launch event in Shenzhen, according to The Verge.
The breakthrough is a result of more than just the charger itself. BYD’s “Super e-Platform” combines batteries that can charge at ten times their capacity per hour with in-house developed high-voltage silicon carbide power chips. These advancements enable the chargers to deliver an impressive 1,000 kilowatts of power, as reported by Reuters.
While other Chinese automakers can provide similar range in a ten-minute charge, BYD is the first to reach speeds comparable to gasoline fill-ups. In comparison, Tesla’s current superchargers manage 250 kilowatts, with a newer version slated to launch later this year topping out at 500 kilowatts.
“Tesla has definitely moved from leader to laggard in EV battery and charging technology at this point,” stated Matt Teske, founder and CEO of electric vehicle charging startup Chargeway, as reported by Axios.
The new charger achieves its performance, thanks in part, to its ability to handle up to 1,000 volts, significantly higher than Tesla’s 400 volts. However, analysts told Reuters that these ultra-high voltages could pose challenges for grid capacity if they are widely implemented.
It is worth noting that the range measurements are based on Chinese standards, which differ from those used by the US Environmental Protection Agency, according to Ars Technica.
For drivers in the U.S., this rapid charging technology will not be available anytime soon. The new charger will only be compatible with two new BYD vehicles – the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV – and, due to new rules from the Biden administration, Chinese-made electric vehicles are essentially banned in the United States.
Despite this, BYD has issued a challenge to other industry players. It may not be long before recharging an electric car becomes as swift and convenient as filling up at the pump.
