BYD launches 1,000kW super-charging EV tech, plans network across China

BYD on Monday unveiled a new platform for electric vehicles (EVs) that it said could charge EVs as quickly as it takes to pump petrol and announced for the first time that it would build a charging network across China.

The so-called "super e-platform" will be capable of peak charging speeds of 1,000kW, enabling cars that use it to travel 400km on a five-minute charge, founder Wang Chuanfu said at an event live-streamed from the company's Shenzhen headquarters.

Charging speeds of 1,000kW would be twice as fast as Tesla's superchargers whose latest version offers up to 500kW charging speeds. Fast-charging technology has been key to increasing EV adoption as it is seen to help assure EV drivers' concerns over being able to charge their cars quickly.

"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 refuelling time of petrol vehicles," Wang said.

"This is the first time in the industry that the unit of megawatt (charge) has been achieved on charging power."

The new charging architecture will be initially available in two new EVs: Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, priced from 270,000 yuan (R675,513).

BYD said it would build over 4,000 ultra-fast charging piles, or units, across China to match the new platform.

The company didn't specify the time frame or how much it would invest in building such facilities. To date, BYD owners have largely relied on other automakers' charging facilities or public charging poles run by third-party operators to charge their vehicles.

Tesla has offered its superchargers in China since 2014 and BYD's smaller Chinese peers such as Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng and Zeekr have also been investing extensively and building charging facilities for years.

BYD mostly relies on plug-in hybrids for its sales, which hit 4.2-million units last year. It has targeted selling between 5-million and 6-million units this year.