BYD, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer in China, has unveiled a new electric vehicle system that enables a charging time comparable to refueling a traditional gasoline vehicle. On Monday, March 17, BYD announced the launch of its Super e-platform and the pre-sale of two new models, the Han L and Tang L, through its official WeChat account. The company introduced a rapid charging battery, a motor capable of 30,000 RPM, and a new generation of automotive-grade silicon carbide power chips.
BYD claims that this new technology achieves a charging power of 1 megawatt (1000 kW), allowing for a peak charging speed of two kilometers per second. This results in a five-minute charging time that provides a range of 400 kilometers, making it the fastest production charging speed globally. In terms of performance, the system achieves a single-module, single-motor power output of 580 kW and a top speed exceeding 300 kilometers per hour.
According to reports from Bloomberg, AP News, and Yicai, BYD’s charging speed significantly surpasses that of its competitor, Tesla. Tesla’s superchargers can provide a range of 275 kilometers in just 15 minutes. However, Tesla boasts a much larger network, with over 65,000 supercharging stations worldwide. Recently, Mercedes-Benz launched a new entry-level CLA electric sedan that can cover 325 kilometers with just a 10-minute charge.
BYD’s Chairman and Founder, Wang Chuanfu, stated that the aim of this new technology is to fundamentally alleviate users’ charging anxiety. He expressed the goal of making electric vehicle charging times as short as those for refueling gasoline cars, achieving what he termed “equal speed for fuel and electricity.” Following this announcement, BYD’s stock price surged to a historic high, climbing as much as 6%. As of 2:23 PM, BYD shares were priced at HKD 399.8 (approximately SGD 68.59), reflecting a gain of 3.68%.
