BYD Super e-Platform megawatt flash charging – Bringing fuel and electricity to the same speed
BYD, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of new-energy vehicles, has unveiled its latest innovation: the Super e-Platform, a revolutionary electric vehicle (EV) architecture that promises to match the refueling speeds of petrol and diesel cars, offering charging speeds never before seen in mass-production electric cars.
Megawatt charging – 2km per second
At the core of BYD’s Super e-Platform is its ability to achieve a staggering one-megawatt (1,000kW) charging rate. This allows EVs to add two kilometres of range every second, meaning a five-minute charge could deliver up to 400 kilometres of driving range. These speeds rival traditional petrol refuelling times, bringing EV charging one step closer to true convenience.
BYD’s latest models, the China-market HAN L and TANG L, are the first to benefit from this platform, featuring a powerful 580kW motor capable of a top speed of over 300 km/h. The motor itself is a new benchmark, operating at speeds of up to 30,000rpm (revolutions per minute), setting records for mass-produced EVs.
A new era of EV charging
At the launch event in Shenzhen, BYD Group Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu highlighted the significance of this development:
“To completely eliminate users’ charging anxiety, our goal is to make EV charging as fast as refuelling a petrol car – achieving ‘oil-electric parity’ in charging speed.”
This is made possible by the Super e-Platform’s high-voltage architecture, which operates at a kilovolt level across the battery, motor, power supply, and air conditioning. The system’s ‘Flash Charging Battery’ utilises an ultra-fast ion channel for a maximum charging current of 1,000A and a charging rate of 10C – both new benchmarks in mass-market EVs.
Infrastructure to support
To support these unprecedented charging speeds, BYD has developed a new generation of automotive-grade silicon carbide (SiC) power chips with a voltage rating of up to 1,500V – another industry first.
However, such high-speed charging requires equally powerful charging stations. In response, BYD has designed and mass-produced an industry-first, fully liquid-cooled megawatt flash-charging terminal system, delivering a maximum output of 1,360kW.
The company has also announced plans to roll out over 4,000 megawatt flash-charging stations across China. Additionally, BYD has developed ‘dual-gun charging’ technology, allowing existing fast chargers to be upgraded instantly, improving compatibility with public charging networks.
What this means for the EV market
BYD's innovations are set to redefine the EV industry, making charging as quick and convenient as refueling a petrol car. This could be a game-changer for the global adoption of electric vehicles, particularly in markets like the UK, where infrastructure development is a key focus.
With its Super e-Platform, BYD is not only breaking new records but also reinforcing China's leadership in global EV technology. If similar charging stations are introduced in the UK, drivers could soon benefit from even faster charging times than the current ultra-rapid chargers, making electric car leasing an even more attractive option.
For those considering the switch to an EV, this breakthrough offers the promise of a future where charging is no longer an inconvenience, but a seamless and ultra-fast experience.
