Chinese OEM BYD this week (ends March 21, 2025) announced its new “super e-platform” that promises to charge EVs at speeds comparable to refueling gasoline vehicles. The platform will be capable of peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), enabling cars to gain 400 km (249 miles) of range in just 5 minutes.
The new charging architecture will be initially available in two models – the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV. BYD’s charging speeds would be twice as fast as Tesla’s superchargers, whose latest version offers up to 500 kW charging speeds.
The new charging system requires vehicles with 1000V architecture and specialized batteries, motors, and heat management systems capable of supporting these high charging rates. According to BYD, every second of charging adds about 2km in range.
“In order to completely solve our user’s 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 BYD founder Wang Chuanfu during a livestreamed event from the company’s Shenzhen headquarters.
The technology utilizes “a new generation of automotive-grade silicon carbide power chips,” a single-module motor capable of 30,000rpm, and a comprehensively upgraded three-core electrical system. To achieve these charging rates, BYD had to reduce the internal resistance of the new battery by 50%, creating an “ultra-high-speed ion channel from the anode to the cathode.”
“This is the first time in the industry that the unit of megawatt (charge) has been achieved on charging power,” said Wang.
BYD also announced plans to build over 4,000 “flash-charging stations” across China to support the new platform, marking the first time the company will develop its own charging network. Previously, BYD owners have relied on other automakers’ charging facilities or public charging poles operated by third parties.
Industry analysts note the technology does come with challenges, including higher production costs and increased energy demands. Fast charging typically costs more due to the power required, and it remains unclear what effect such rapid charging could have on battery degradation over time.
Following the announcement, BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares gained 4.1% on Tuesday to hit a record high of 408.80 Hong Kong dollars ($40.58). Meanwhile, Tesla shares fell by 4.8% on Monday and were down more than 5% after Wall Street opened on Tuesday.
