- EXPLORE FURTHER: Electric vehicle brakes generate pollutants that are even 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,' allows a vehicle to cover 250 miles (400km) with only five minutes of charging time.
This 1,000-kilowatt (kW) charger – double the power of its competitor Tesla Supercharger – capable of replenishing an electric vehicle’s battery in about the same duration as 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.
This recent advancement might propel the Chinese firm into the leading role by attracting customers who are hesitant to abandon their traditional gasoline vehicles.
BYD founder Wang Chuanfu, often described as China 's Elon Musk mentioned during a launch event in Shenzhen, China, that the brand's upcoming vehicles would reach 'fuel-parity' when it comes to refueling.
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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 United Kingdom ranging from 270,000 to 350,000 yuan ($37,300-$48,350 or £28,700-£37,300).
The firm asserts that this innovative battery design in their vehicles enables an addition of approximately 1.20 miles (2 kilometers) of range per each second of charging when operating at maximum efficiency.
Officially classified as '10C', this indicates that the vehicles can achieve a full charge in one-tenth of an hour, which equates to six minutes.
Rapid charging necessitates the transfer of substantial electrical power, implying the generation of both a significantly high voltage and a considerable amount of current simultaneously.
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 implies that the battery generates less heat as current flows through it.
Moreover, the firm claims it has developed new silicon carbide power chips capable of enduring 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 achieving megawatts as a measurement for charging power."
This power level increases the capacity 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 earlier models do not have this capability. peak at somewhere from 250 to 400 kW.
The majority of Tesla's Superchargers in the United Kingdom can supply sufficient power for a 172-mile (277-kilometer) journey within just 15 minutes of charging.
BYD states its intention to set up a network consisting of 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.
Nonetheless, 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 verified if they intend to deploy flash chargers in other locations.
Many industry observers believe that quicker charging times and improved driving ranges are crucial for transitioning away from vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, which release contaminants.
According to a 2024 survey conducted by the management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, 40 percent of potential electric vehicle (EV) purchasers aimed for over 400 miles of driving distance on a single battery charge—approximately equivalent to what an internal combustion engine vehicle could achieve with one full tank of gasoline.
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 favorably 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's stock value fell by 5.5 percent. , adding another 4.8 percent decline from Monday.
Overall, Tesla's value has dropped by 44 percent throughout 2025, as investors express concern about CEO Elon Musk's prominent association with Donald Trump.
Since Trump's election, The automotive company has experienced over $800 billion (£617bn) erased from its stock market value.