Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has unveiled its second generation blade battery with new flash charging technology that targets two of the most significant challenges facing electric vehicles today – slow charging speeds and low charging efficiency in low temperatures.
With these advancements, BYD claims a new global benchmark for ultra-fast EV charging, enabling vehicles to be charged from 10% to 70% state of charge (SOC) in just five minutes. The system can charge the battery to 97% in approximately nine minutes, significantly reducing downtime for EV users.
The new technology provides strong performance even in extreme climates. According to the company, even at temperatures as low as -30°C, charging from 20% to 97% takes only three minutes longer than charging at standard room temperature.
Along with battery innovation, BYD outlined a strategy to expand its charging infrastructure. The company plans to build 20,000 flash charging stations across China, with a broader global rollout expected to begin on a larger scale by the end of 2026.
The development marks a major step toward improving charging convenience and utility for electric vehicle owners, as automakers race to overcome major barriers to EV adoption around the world.
Charging speed remains a matter of concern for consumers and society
Despite the rapid growth of the global EV market, consumers are facing concerns, including range anxiety, holiday queues at charging stations that can last for hours, and significantly slower charging speeds in the winter. Apart from the significant mental stress for users, the wastage of resources and infrastructure costs associated with traditional chargers are also considerable.
Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD, emphasized that the industry must address these lingering challenges: slow charging speed and poor low-temperature charging performance.
BYD second generation Blade battery: a new frontier in battery power
Through six years of intensive research and development, the second generation Blade Battery delivers a charging experience that finally matches refueling speeds.
In traditional battery engineering, fast charging and high energy density are often viewed as technically conflicting goals. BYD has solved this trade-off by increasing energy density by 5% compared to the first generation while significantly accelerating charging speeds. Equipped with a second-generation blade battery, the DENZA Z9GT features BYD’s latest lightweight carbody, allowing it to achieve a class-leading range of 1,036 km.
To reduce internal heat generation and maximize heat dissipation of the second-generation blade battery, BYD engineered a “lithium-ion high-speed channel” and a “full-spectrum intelligent thermal management system.” This is in line with BYD’s philosophy that “safety is the ultimate luxury of NEV.” The second generation blade battery has passed a series of safety tests that exceed China’s national standards, effectively allaying consumers’ concerns.
The second generation blade battery not only provides users with unprecedented charging speeds, a range of more than 1,000 km, but also enhances automotive safety, representing the frontier of power battery innovation.
BYD Flash Charging: Responsible Energy Solution
To enable these record-breaking speeds, BYD developed the flash charger with a world-leading single-connector output of 1500 kW. Combined with a high-capacity energy storage system, this infrastructure overcomes grid capacity limits without placing a strain on local electricity networks, representing the most socially responsible and grid-friendly charging solution in the industry today.
BYD Flash Charging Station: Redefining and accessible the charging experience
Traditional public charging points are often criticized for being cumbersome, unhygienic, inflexible, and having complex authentication steps that hinder the user experience. To overcome these problems, the Flash Charger features the world’s first T-shaped pulley charger.
Its “zero-gravity” design allows users to easily lift the connector to either side of the vehicle while keeping the cable clean and off the ground.
By the end of 2026, BYD plans to build 20,000 flash charging stations in China and roll out globally. Once built, these stations will be open to the public, with the aim of accelerating the electrification of transport and building a green future.
Inspired by the “Three Green Dreams”: Accelerating Global Mobility Electrification
In 2006, BYD proposed the “Three Green Dreams”, a vision that has since become Wang Chuanfu’s lifelong mission. Through nearly two decades of unwavering commitment, those dreams have steadily moved into reality, culminating in today’s integrated solar-storage-charging (SSC) flash charging technology.
BYD has always believed in using technology to change the world. Today, with the launch of the second generation blade battery and flash charging technology, we are once again reshaping our future with technology and innovations, facilitating a leap into the global transition to electric, intelligent mobility and building a greener Earth for generations to come.