BYD unveils new battery know-how to ‘resolve’ one of many greatest flaws with EVs
Chinese electric car giant BYD has unveiled new battery technology it says will overcome one of the biggest criticisms levelled at EVs.
The world’s biggest electric car manufacturers overnight revealed its ‘Super e-Platform’ using the latest lithium-ion-phosphate Blade battery technology that it claims can charge at speeds of up to 1,000kW.
Using a new network of ultra-fast charging devices, it is capable of adding up to 470 kilometres (292 miles) of range from a charging session lasting just five minutes.
This means it is almost equivalent to the time it takes to fill up a petrol of diesel car at the pumps.
Shares in the Chinese EV giant have surged to a record high on the back of the announcement of its ‘flash charging’ tech.
BYD founder Wang Chuanfu said it has the potential to ‘fundamentally solve users’ charging anxiety.’
He added: ‘Our pursuit is to make the charging time of electric vehicles as short as the refuelling time of fuel vehicles.’
BYD has revealed its new ‘Super e-Platform’ that will underpin two of its latest models sold in China. Their batteries can be charged in just 5 minutes – around the same time it takes to fill up with fuel at the pumps
Charging time – along with premium new-model prices, a lack of charging infrastructure and range anxiety – is seen as one of the biggest hurdles preventing mass adoption of EVs today.
However, BYD’s new technology could make criticisms of long wait times for batteries to replenish – especially during longer journeys – null and void.
The new technology will be available for the first time in the updated versions of its Han L saloon and Tang L SUV – models set for delivery in China later this year.
The game-changing drivetrain system also incorporates BYD’s new high-performance electric motors, which paired in a dual-motor setup can provide up to 1,084bhp.
Operating at speeds of 30,511rpm, this is the highest-revving of any mass-produced e-motor to date, and the first to exceed 30,000rpm in large-scale production.
To put its potency into perspective, a twin-motor setup will produce more power than a Lamborghini Revuelto plug-in hybrid supercar can generate and – more importantly – betters the 1,020bhp offered up by EV arch-rival Tesla and its Model S Plaid.
BYD said the new platform and ‘flash-charging’ devices will ‘fundamentally solve users’ charging anxiety’
The company also confirmed it will build more than 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations in China with 1,000kW devices capable of supporting the new technology
BYD’s new chargers will offer double the peak power of Tesla’s latest V4 Supercharger (pictured), which is the fastest device available to EV owners in Britain today
The Chinese maker is yet to confirm the capacity and weight but says the battery’s use of a 10C charging multiplier – the highest of any mass-produced power battery in the world – could theoretically see a full charge completed in just six minutes.
At an event livestreamed from the company’s Shenzhen headquarters, it said a charging voltage of up to 1,000V and a maximum current of 1,000A allows the system to sustain 1MW (megawatt) of charging power.
The company also confirmed it will build more than 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations in China with devices capable of supporting the new technology.
The new 1,000kW supercharger is double the peak power of Tesla’s latest V4 Supercharger, which is the fastest device available to EV owners in Britain today.
The new technology will be debuted in the updated version of BYD’s Han L saloon, which goes on sale later this year priced from under £30,000
The Super e-Platform also underpins the revised Tang L SUV, which will cost around £30,600 in China (inclusive of government subsidies) when it goes on sale in China later in 2025
BYD has so far not detailed plans to incorporate the new Super e-Platform into any of the models it currently sells in the UK, which includes the Dolphin, Atto3 and Seal.
The trio uses BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, which currently accommodates batteries of up to 82.5kWh, maximum charging speeds of 150kW and a peak power output of 523bhp.
The latest versions of the Han L saloon and Tang L SUV using the new tech have respective starting prices of 270,000 Yuan and 280,000 Yuan.
This translates to affordable pricing of just £29,500 and £30,600 respectively, though Chinese cars are heavily subsidised by Beijing.
Their dual motor setups have peak power of 810kW meaning they can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 2.7 seconds for the Han L and 3.9 seconds for the Tang L.
Both are also equipped with BYD’s latest ‘God’s Eye B’ advanced autonomous driving system powered by roof-mounted lidar.
Hong Kong-listed shares in BYD jumped more than six per cent to hit a fresh peak at one point Tuesday morning before paring some of the gains.
BYD has experienced remarkable growth in recent months.
In February, its sales soared 161 per cent to more than 318,000 electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, Tesla experienced a steep 49 per cent sales decline in the Chinese market during the same period.
Separately, Chinese EV maker Nio announced on Tuesday it had signed a deal with battery giant CATL involving cooperation on a passenger car battery swap network.
Battery swapping offers an alternative to ultra-fast charging for vehicle owners worried about range, though the vast infrastructure required and standardisation issues present major hurdles.
