INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China&s leading electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD unveiled a new battery and charging system this week that is widely considered a
technological breakthrough, as it promised to drastically cut charging time close to refueling the tank of a gasoline car.The system can
provide a 400-kilometer range with just five minutes of charging & the fastest charging speed for any production EV to date, the company
BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu proudly said at a launch event that the new battery will get rid of &recharge anxiety& for EV users, as it will
take five to eight minutes for both EV or gasoline car owners to wait at a refuel station for similar range.The news has drawn widespread
attention around the globe, with well-known tech website Axios.com comparing it to another &DeepSeek moment.& It has been only a few months
since Chinese company DeepSeek shook the world with its powerful AI model that is believed to be able to challenge established giants like
OpenAI with a much smaller cost.Neil Beveridge, a senior analyst at research firm Bernstein, told the Financial Times that BYD&s charging
system is the fastest on the market and if this technology is widely adopted, it could eliminate range anxiety, one of the biggest barriers
How significant is BYD&s new charging technology? What did the international media and experts say about it? Here are some key points to
share.How does it compare to competitors?Axios suggests that this development could mark a DeepSeek moment for the EV industry, as a Chinese
company is breaking down adoption barriers with significantly more efficient technology.Comparisons made by Reuters with Tesla highlight the
leap, saying BYD&s 1,000 kW charging speed is twice as fast as Tesla&s Supercharger network, which currently maxes out at 500 kW.According
to The Guardian, Tesla is facing growing competition from more affordable EVs, particularly from BYD and other Chinese
manufacturers.Meanwhile, Chinese automakers such as Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng and Zeekr have been aggressively expanding their charging
infrastructure and may soon introduce similar fast-charging innovations
Zeekr, a premium EV brand under Geely, launched an 800-volt platform last year, enabling its Zeekr 007 sedan to charge from 10 percent to
80 percent in about 10 minutes
Similarly, Li Auto and Xpeng offer technology that can deliver over 400 km of range with just a 10-minute charge.How did BYD achieve this ?
The challenge of ultra-fast charging lies in delivering high voltage and large current without overheating the battery
BYD says it overcame these hurdles with several innovations: & Reduced battery internal resistance, enabling faster charging without
& New-generation silicon carbide power chips to handle ultra-high voltages
& A 10C charging multiplier, meaning the battery can be charged at 10 times its capacity per hour. & Ultra-fast chargers supporting 1,000
kW of power, significantly higher than existing industry standards
Potential challenges and concernsDespite its technological edge, some media reports say BYD&s new system still needs to deal with a few
hurdles.- Energy costs: Reuters said that widespread fast-charging adoption could strain power grids, requiring significant infrastructure
BYD plans to address this by integrating energy storage units with its fast chargers, though this may increase costs.- Battery degradation:
Frequent fast charging can accelerate battery wear, potentially reducing overall lifespan & an issue still being studied with high-voltage
systems, according to The Guardian.Is it likely to be adopted soon?The first models featuring this technology, the Han L sedan and Tang L
SUV, will start at 270,000 yuan ($37,330)
To support the rollout, BYD plans to install 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations across China, mirroring Tesla&s Supercharger network
However, mass adoption could take time: - Premium brands may adopt it first, while budget EVs focus on lower battery costs rather than
- Home chargers remain sufficient for many EV owners, reducing the urgency for ultra-fast public charging
- Infrastructure needs to scale & not all regions have the grid capacity to support the fast charging. (Cover via VCG)
