BYD has taken another major step toward making electric vehicle charging as fast as refueling a gasoline car. In a newly released video, a BYD electric vehicle gains around 400 km (249 miles) of driving range in just five minutes, showcasing the real-world performance of the company’s latest charging technology.
BYD’s Goal: Charging as Fast as Refueling
During the unveiling of its new Super e-Platform in March, BYD Chairman and CEO Wang Chuanfu clearly defined the company’s ambition:
“The ultimate solution is to make charging as fast as refueling a gasoline vehicle.”
This strategy directly targets so-called charging anxiety, one of the main barriers still preventing some drivers from switching to electric vehicles.
Super e-Platform: 1000V Architecture Goes Mass Production
The Super e-Platform is BYD’s first mass-produced full-domain 1000-volt architecture for passenger cars. Alongside it, the company introduced the Flash Charging Battery, featuring record-breaking specifications:
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Charging current: up to 1,000 A
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Charging rate: 10C
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Peak charging power: up to 1 MW (1,000 kW)
According to BYD, this setup enables EVs built on the platform to recover up to 400 km of range (CLTC cycle) in just 5 minutes.
Not a Lab Test: Real Cars, Real Charging
Crucially, this is not experimental lab technology. The first production models based on the Super e-Platform are:
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BYD Han L
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BYD Tang L
BYD brought both vehicles to market just one month after the platform’s announcement, with a starting price of 219,800 yuan (approximately $30,000).
Real-World Charging Results
With mass deliveries underway in China, real charging demonstrations have already appeared. In a video shared on X by Dominic Lee, a BYD EV reaches a peak charging power of 746 kW.
Observed performance includes:
Around 70% battery charge in approximately 4 minutes and 40 seconds
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BYD Han L:
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10% to 70% in about 6 minutes
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Full charge in roughly 20 minutes
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BYD Tang L:
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Adds 370 km of range in 5 minutes
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Full charge in around 30 minutes
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Closing the Gap With Gasoline Cars
BYD emphasizes that its Flash Charging Battery enables EVs to achieve a driving range comparable to that of internal combustion vehicles during a traditional fuel stop—effectively reducing charging time to a level equivalent to refueling time.
If scaled successfully, this technology could fundamentally change public perception of electric vehicles and accelerate the global transition to EVs.
