SHENZHEN-BASED automaker BYD last week unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery and flash-charging technology, calling it a new major breakthrough in electrification as the company moves to tackle persistent challenges in the country’s new energy vehicle market.

According to the company, the new battery offers the world’s fastest charging speed.

Under standard conditions, it can charge from 10% to 70% in five minutes, and from 10% to 97% in just nine minutes.

Designed to perform reliably in cold weather, the battery can go from 20% to 97% in 12 minutes at minus 20 degrees Celsius.

BYD added that the battery has passed a series of safety tests exceeding China’s latest national standards.

Vehicles equipped with the new battery are compatible with China’s existing network of 4.8 million public chargers, with overall charging speeds improved by 30% to 50%.

BYD also introduced a flash charger with a single-gun output of up to 1,500 kilowatts, the highest power level for a mass-produced charger of its kind globally.

To support the rollout, the company plans to build 20,000 flash-charging stations nationwide by the end of 2026, including 2,000 along highways. These are expected to cover nearly one-third of expressway service areas, with the first 1,000 stations set to be completed before this year’s May Day holiday. As of March 5, BYD had already installed 4,239 stations across the country.

(SD News)