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Some of the biggest challenges of electriccarsare charging times and range anxiety, but BYD has the solution: make charging as quick and convenient as filling up at the pump. Sounds simple, right? BYD’s Super e-Platform and flash charging battery deliver the fastest rates in the world, allowing batteries to gain 1.2 miles of range every second from its revolutionary megawatt chargers.
Generally speaking, EV adoption isn’t the issue –unreliable chargers are. Despite Tesla being the current (pun intended) leader in EV charging times, with 500kW superchargers juicing up batteries in 15 minutes, it’s still not enough to convince drivers to make the switch to electric. Vehicles like theTesla Model Y depreciate rapidly, giving people another objection.
However, this new platform could be the answer to many hurdles, especially for used EV values, if it makes electric cars desirable and negates the need for tricks toextend EV battery range.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from BYD, CATL, and other manufacturer websites.
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What is BYD’s Super e-Platform?
This new platform is designed by BYD specifically for electric vehicles. It’s a group of modules that work together to improve EV technology. Core electronic components in charging stations get significant upgrades over mainstream ones, enabling a megawatt (1000 kW) current with a rate of 10C, making it the fastest in the world for mass-produced vehicles.
Other class-leading parts in the e-Platform include a flash-charging battery, a 30,000 RPM motor – even more than the current fastest found in the BYD Sealion 7 we reviewed – and silicon carbide powerchips.
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How does it benefit drivers?
Drivers of new BYD EVs featuring a new flash-charging battery will be able to charge their car from 10-80% in a record five minutes, according to the company. As well as reducing charging time, it will reduce wait times for a station to become available, and will make living with an electric car easier for those who can’t charge at home.
Giving the car more power actually reduces consumption.
The 30,000 RPM motor has obvious performance benefits, but it’s more compact and lighter than before. This means it reduces the overall weight of vehicles, and thus requires less power to move them. So, in a roundabout way, giving the car more power actually reduces consumption to increase range.
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Can BYD batteries really charge in 5 minutes?
The new flash-charging batteries have ultra-fast ion channels, meaning there’s less resistance inside the battery itself. This allows a current of 1000A and a charging rate of 10C, both of which are world-leading figures for charging. It’s also how the battery receives 1.2 miles of range every second with optimal charging. Not only does this beat Tesla’s impressive Supercharger network, it also matches the average time spent refueling a car.
Charging times vs fueling
Time (10-80% or full)
Range Added
5–8 minutes
400-500 miles (est.)
Tesla Supercharger V4
15 minutes
BYD Super e-Platform
When will flash charging be available?
BYD has already opened the order books for thenew Han L and Tang Lin China, which feature flash-charging batteries. Lian Yubo, Executive Vice President of BYD and President of the Automotive Engineering Research Institute, says they plan to build over 40,000 stations in China. The company also confirmed European expansion.
According to BYD, its dual-gun charging technology is compatible with exiting stations, upgrading fast chargers to superchargers, and superchargers up to flash-charging grade. Flash-charging batteries can also be connected to any public fast charging unit, so that users aren’t left stranded if there is no megawatt charger nearby.
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Sparking competition
More battery producers will follow
Although BYD was the first to announce ultra-rapid charging times and revolutionary new batteries, there is competition. Another battery producer, CATL, hit back at the Chinese giant, claiming to have abattery that charges even fasterto a higher range than flash-charging. This is exactly what we expected, and this race to the bottom should force competition from others, like Tesla, to make charging quicker and more accessible in the future.
