BYD Unveils Ultra-Fast EV Battery charging as fast as filling up with petrol

• BYD launches Blade Battery 2.0, claiming record-fast mass-production charging speeds.

• Charges 10%–70% in 5 minutes; 97% in 9 minutes.

• Maintains strong performance even at −30°C.

• Plans 20,000 flash-charging stations (1,500kW peak).

• Move comes amid slowing EV sales and price wars.

• Introduces Denza Z9 GT with 1,036km range and free one-year charging offer.

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has introduced a next-generation battery it claims can transform the charging experience for drivers, bringing it closer than ever to the convenience of refuelling a traditional petrol-powered car.

The newly launched Blade Battery 2.0 was revealed on Thursday during a live-streamed event. According to the company, the upgraded battery can power up from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in just five minutes and reach 97 per cent charge in nine minutes — performance levels BYD describes as the fastest available for a mass-produced battery system.

The company also emphasised the battery’s resilience under harsh conditions. Even in freezing temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit), the battery can charge from 20 per cent to 97 per cent within 12 minutes, addressing one of the longstanding concerns about EV performance in extreme climates.

BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu said the industry’s traditional approach to easing drivers’ “range anxiety” — increasing battery size and expanding charging infrastructure — has resulted in inefficiencies without solving the core issue. He argued that meaningful progress lies in dramatically reducing charging times.

“The key is making charging as quick and effortless as filling up a gas tank,” Wang said. “If we can recreate that refuelling experience, concerns about range will naturally disappear.”

To support the rollout of the new technology, BYD plans to establish 20,000 high-speed “flash charging” stations across China by the end of the year. Of those, 18,000 will be integrated into existing charging facilities. These stations are designed to deliver peak power output of up to 1,500 kilowatts, a figure that far exceeds most current industry standards.

By comparison, Tesla introduced its V4 supercharger in mainland China in June last year, offering peak charging speeds of up to 500 kilowatts. However, only about 40 of those units are currently installed nationwide, according to Tesla’s China website.

The battery debut comes at a pivotal moment for China’s EV market, which has begun to show signs of cooling after years of rapid expansion. BYD, the country’s largest EV manufacturer and one of the few consistently profitable players in the sector, reported a 35.8 per cent drop in vehicle sales year on year to 400,241 units in the first two months of this year.

The company’s earnings have also been pressured by an intense industry price war. In the third quarter of last year, BYD’s net profit fell 32.6 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier. Across the broader market, average selling prices for new energy vehicles declined 11 per cent in 2024 to 195,000 yuan, marking the sharpest fall in roughly three years, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.

The pricing battle has rippled through the supply chain, straining suppliers as automakers extended payment terms to as long as 12 months. Since mid-last year, Chinese regulators have repeatedly urged car manufacturers to curb aggressive discounting and redirect attention toward technological development and overseas expansion.

Adding to the challenges, government tax incentives for EV purchases have been scaled back this year. UBS analysts forecast that electric vehicle deliveries in China will grow by 8 per cent year on year — a notable slowdown from last year’s 28.2 per cent increase.

Alongside the battery launch, BYD introduced an updated Denza Z9 GT, a premium model equipped with the Blade Battery 2.0. The vehicle offers a claimed driving range of up to 1,036 kilometres (644 miles) and starts at 269,800 yuan (US$39,105). To further entice buyers, BYD is offering one year of complimentary charging for vehicles fitted with the new battery.

With faster charging technology and expanded infrastructure at the centre of its strategy, BYD is betting that innovation — rather than price cuts — will be the next phase of competition in China’s increasingly crowded EV market.