BEIJING: Shares of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD soared to a record high today following the unveiling of its groundbreaking battery technology, which promises to charge an EV in the same time it takes to refuel a petrol car.
The new battery and charging system, dubbed the “Super e-Platform”, boasts peak charging speeds of 1,000 kW, enabling vehicles to travel up to 470 kilometres after just five minutes of charging.
BYD founder Wang Chuanfu said the innovation aims to “fundamentally solve users’ charging anxiety.”
“Our goal is to make EV charging as fast as refueling a petrol vehicle,” he stated at the launch event last night.
Following the announcement, BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares surged over six percent to hit a record high on Tuesday morning before paring some gains.
A Step Ahead of Tesla
The new technology places BYD ahead of rival Tesla, whose Superchargers currently peak at 500 kW—only half the speed of BYD’s latest innovation.
Alongside the Super e-Platform, BYD introduced two new EV models—the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV—which will be the first to feature the cutting-edge system.
To support the rollout, BYD also revealed plans to build over 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations across China, reinforcing its aggressive push for EV infrastructure dominance.
BYD’s Explosive Growth
The announcement comes as BYD continues its rapid expansion, with February sales surging 161% to more than 318,000 electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Tesla faced a 49% drop in Chinese market sales over the same period.
Nio & CATL Bet on Battery Swapping
In a separate development, fellow Chinese EV maker Nio signed a deal with battery giant CATL to collaborate on a passenger car battery swap network.
Battery swapping offers an alternative to ultra-fast charging, but infrastructure costs and standardization remain significant hurdles. Under the agreement, CATL will invest up to 2.5 billion yuan (RM1.5 billion) into Nio’s network.
With BYD pushing the limits of charging speed and Nio betting on battery swaps, China’s EV race is heating up like never before. — AFP
