Five-minute EV chargers are coming to the UK, offering faster and cheaper charging for thousands of drivers. Chinese car giant BYD has announced plans to install 300 super-fast EV chargers across the country, as part of a broader push to become the world's largest automaker within five years.
BYD's Ambitious Plans
BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu stated at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Shenzhen that he is confident BYD will overtake global rivals through rapid advances in battery technology and fast charging. The company aims to invest nearly £1.8 billion in Europe to develop infrastructure for five-minute 'flash charging' of its cars.
Flash Charger Rollout
BYD's top international executive, Stella Li, told reporters in London that the company will start assembling cars at its new plant in Hungary in the fourth quarter of this year. She added that finding a second production facility in Europe is the next priority. The rapid rollout will result in a flash charger approximately every 50 kilometres (31 miles) across the UK.
Currently, there are around 20,000 Tesla superchargers in operation across Europe, spread over 1,500 sites. However, flash chargers are far more powerful, with a peak output of 1,500 kW – three times faster than Tesla's superchargers.
Compatible Vehicles and Pricing
The Denza Z9GT, a sub-brand of BYD, will be the first car capable of accepting 1.5 MW charging. It is expected to be rolled out in the UK by the end of the year. Owners of compatible vehicles can charge at a rate of 50p per kWh, with some cars reaching a full charge in just five minutes. For drivers using the standard 350 kW rate, a 10 to 80 per cent charge will take around 18 minutes.
