- EXPLORE FURTHER: Electric vehicle brakes generate pollutants more hazardous than those from diesel engines.
Although electric vehicles may attract environmentally aware drivers, the concern over battery depletion before reaching one’s destination deters numerous potential buyers.
However, the Chinese EV manufacturer BYD asserts that their newest models will put an end to 'range anxiety.'
BYD claims that their latest charging system, known as the 'Super-E Platform,' can allow a vehicle to cover up to 250 miles (400km) with only five minutes of charging time.
This 1,000-kilowatt (kW) charger – double the power of its competitor Tesla Supercharger – able to replenish an electric vehicle’s battery in the same duration it takes to refuel a conventional car. petrol car with fuel.
Last year, BYD was the globe's second biggest producer of battery-operated electric cars just slightly behind Elon Musk's Tesla.
Nevertheless, this recent advancement might elevate the Chinese firm to the leading spot by attracting purchasers hesitant to abandon their traditional gasoline vehicles.
The BYD founder, Wang Chuanfu—who is frequently referred to as China 's Elon Musk , stated during a launch event in Shenzhen, China, that the brand's upcoming vehicles would reach 'fuel-parity' when it comes to refueling.
Mr Wang added: '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 refuelling time of petrol vehicles.'
BYD states that the newly introduced ultra-fast charging tech will first be featured in two models released this year: the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV.
The Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV both have slightly lower starting prices. the typical cost of an electric vehicle in the UK , with prices ranging from 270,000 to 350,000 yuan ($37,300-$48,350 or £28,700-£37,300).
The company claims these cars' new battery architecture will allow drivers to add up to 1.20mile (2km) of range for every second of charging at peak rates.
officially has a rating of '10C,' indicating that these vehicles can achieve a full charge in one-tenth of an hour, which equates to just six minutes.
Rapid charging necessitates the transfer of substantial electrical power, implying the generation of both a high voltage and a significant current concurrently.
The biggest barrier to increasing charging power is that big currents create a lot of heat which can be dangerous when it builds up in a large battery.
To address this issue, BYD claims it has succeeded in decreasing the internal resistance of the battery, which means that less heat is generated within the battery as current flows through it.
Moreover, the firm claims it has developed novel silicon carbide power chips designed to endure increased voltage levels.
In a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, translated via Google Translate, the company says: ‘BYD officially releases flash charging battery with ultra-high voltage of 1000V, ultra-large current of 1000A and ultra-large power of 1000kW.'
At the launch event, Mr. Wang stated, "For the first time in our sector, we have reached the milestone of megawatts in terms of charging power."
This power level increases the capability of most charging systems found in the UK and the US by two or three times.
Tesla's most recent batch of Superchargers can achieve up to 500 kW, whereas the majority of the older models do not have this capability. peak at somewhere from 250 to 400 kW.
A majority of Tesla's Superchargers in the United Kingdom can supply sufficient power for drivers to travel up to 172 miles (277 kilometers) following just 15 minutes of charging.
According to BYD, they intend to set up a network comprising 4,000 quick-charging stations throughout China.
Stronger charging stations need direct connection to the power grid along with specialized cooling systems to avoid overheating.
This suggests that the new flash-charging system might necessitate building further infrastructure, such as constructing extra substations and transformers.
Nevertheless, BYD has not offered any details regarding the timeline for building these stations or how they intend to fund their construction.
Similarly, BYD states that the technology will first be accessible solely within China, and they have not indicated whether they plan to deploy flash chargers in other locations.
Many industry experts view quicker charging times and improved driving ranges as crucial factors for transitioning from vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, which release contaminants.
According to a 2024 survey conducted by management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, 40 percent of potential electric vehicle (EV) purchasers aimed for over 400 miles of range on a single battery charge—approximately equivalent to the typical distance a gasoline-powered car can cover with one full tank.
Similarly, 42 percent of participants indicated that charging speed is their primary concern.
Of those people, 60 per cent said they wanted charging times of 30 minutes or less.
News of BYD's advancement has been positively received by global markets and could potentially assist BYD in surpassing its competitor Tesla over an extended period.
Following the announcement, BYD's shares surged to an all-time peak, rising by 4.1 percent on Tuesday to reach a value of HK$408.80 ($52.59) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Meanwhile, On Tuesday, Tesla experienced a drop of 5.5 percent in their stock price. , adding another 4.8 percent decline from Monday.
Overall, Tesla's value has dropped by 44 percent throughout 2025 due to investor concerns about CEO Elon Musk's prominent association with Donald Trump.
Since Trump's election, The automaker has experienced over $800 billion (£617bn) erased from its stock market value.
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