This article was published by The Energy Mix on March 27, 2025.
By Chris Bonasia
Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is set to release a model that will be able to drive up to 400 kilometres after just five minutes of charging, though experts warn of infrastructure challenges.
The company reported a record annual revenue of US$170 billion in 2024, overtaking Tesla’s $155.5 billion. These developments highlight the widening gap between the two companies as BYD’s technology continues to surpass Tesla’s, writes ABC News.
Riding on its success, BYD is looking to expand its production facilities in Europe by building a third manufacturing plant in Germany, which will help it reach European customers without the extra cost of import tariffs.
BYD’s new charging capacity is made possible by an “all liquid-cooled megawatt flash charging terminal system.” The charging system is matched with a 1500-volt next-generation silicon carbide power chip and a flash-charging battery with ultra-fast ion channels, which halves the battery’s internal resistance.
Those innovations enable drivers to recharge their vehicles at a rate of about two kilometres per second, faster than any other passenger EV. The next closest competitor—Li Auto, also based in China—can reach a 500-kilometre range in 12 minutes, while Tesla superchargers can charge to a 275-kilometre range in 15 minutes, Bloomberg writes.
Two vehicles with this capacity will be launched in April—the Han L and the Tang L sport utility vehicle. Starting prices for these options are C$53,224 (270,000 yuan) and $55,196 (280,000 yuan). In comparison, the extended range option for BYD’s Han EV costs $45,300 (229,800 yuan). Prices for a Tesla Model Y start at $64,990 in Canada.
The fast charging time will help some buyers move past anxiety over EV wait times, InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast co-hosts Patrick George and Tim Levin said. But they added that the really important point about BYD’s progress isn’t just that its technology is better than that of other companies, but that it is available in vehicles that are accessible for average consumers. BYD’s cars are sold for a good value in China even though they are more expensive or unavailable in other countries because of high tariffs. George said BYD EVs are unassuming and normal, instead of looking like “high-tech spaceships.”
“It’s so crazy how they’ve normalized this stuff,” he added.
BYD has plans to install 4,000 of its chargers across China, but has not provided specifics on how that will unfold. Some experts say that while the charging systems can work on their own, it may be difficult to integrate them into the grid because they have large power needs that could demand costly grid connection updates. The advanced liquid-cooled system itself is likely to be more expensive than other chargers, which could mean higher charging prices for drivers, reports Wired.
Others question exactly how useful the new system will be, given that most EV drivers are able to charge their vehicles at night when charging times are less relevant. The super-fast charging could also pose some safety concerns and might affect the long-term durability of the battery, writes Bloomberg.
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