- BYD tests new 1,500 kW flash charging network in China
- Charging times of less than five minutes are possible
- Prices on BYD’s website are surprisingly cheap
Images have surfaced from Shenzhen, China, where BYD is testing its megawatt EV charging infrastructure with selected owners.
The Flash Charging network, capable of delivering 1,500 kW to compatible electric vehicles, is more than three times faster than some of the most powerful fast and ultra-fast charging outlets found in North America, Europe and beyond. It would be possible to add 249 miles of range in just five minutes.
Car News China has revealed footage of the testing center in use. Only BYD cars currently use innovative liquid-cooled loading guns and T-shaped gantry cranes that allow multiple owners to stop at the same time, quickly load and continue on their way, without the need to park for long periods.
In fact, BYD’s hub looks more like a traditional gas station or gas station, which makes sense given that the 1,500 kW outlets have already been touted to play well with the next generation of BYD’s premium Han, Tang and other flagship models – all capable of adding nearly 250 miles of range in less than five minutes.
According to Car News China, the testing center is open to any domestic BYD vehicle with a Flash Charge badge, which also includes a number of Denza models. Users simply roll up, plug in, and the vehicle’s infotainment system or a dedicated Android Flash Charging app handles the payment procedure.
Additionally, the price on the demo site was reportedly listed as 1.3 yuan per kWh, or around $0.18 / £0.14 / AU$0.27.
That works out to around $15 / £12 / AU$23 – a real bargain, considering fast charging in the UK can easily cost over £70 when larger batteries are full.
Car News China claims that previous reports indicate that BYD could target more than 4,000 self-operated flash charging stations in China, with wider cooperation networks potentially exceeding 15,000 locations in the country in the coming years.
Tesla gets in on the megawatt action
This week also saw news that Tesla had listed 64 new “Megacharger” locations in the United States to support its growing fleet of all-electric tractor-trailers.
Capable of delivering more than 1.2 megawatts of power, these specific outlets can charge a tractor-trailer to 60 percent in about 30 minutes, with the proposed location of the chargers creating usable corridors for electrified heavy-duty trucks to operate efficiently from coast to coast.
However, Tesla has been relatively slow to catch up when it comes to consumer electric vehicle technology, as the V4 Superchargers reportedly deployed in China are already capable of supporting up to 500 kW of peak power for passenger vehicles.
If the charging stats disclosed by BYD’s latest Flash charging hubs are correct, that already puts the company two or three times faster than Tesla’s state-of-the-art charging technology.
Additionally, Tesla’s failed Cybertruck is currently the only vehicle in the lineup capable of charging at speeds close to the proposed 500 kW.
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