BEIJING, March 17 (Reuters) - BYD revealed on Monday a new electric vehicle (EV) platform claiming it can charge EVs as quickly as fueling gas vehicles. The company also announced plans to establish a charging network across China.
Founder Wang Chuanfu introduced the "super e-platform" capable of peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), allowing cars to drive 400 km (249 miles) after a 5-minute charge. This speed surpasses Tesla's superchargers, offering up to 500 kW charging rates. Rapid charging is crucial for boosting EV adoption by addressing drivers' concerns about charging convenience.
Wang stated, "To eliminate our users' worries about charging, we aim to match petrol vehicle refueling times with EV charging times."
BYD's new charging system will debut in the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, priced from 270,000 yuan ($37,328.91). The company plans to install over 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations nationwide to support the new platform, without specifying investment details or a timeline.
Previously, BYD owners mostly relied on other automakers' or third-party operators' charging facilities. While Tesla has offered superchargers in China since 2014, smaller Chinese automakers like Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Zeekr have also been investing in and expanding their charging infrastructures for years.
BYD achieved strong sales with 4.2 million units of plug-in hybrids sold last year and aims to sell 5-6 million units this year.
($1 = 7.2330 Chinese yuan renminbi)