Chinese company BYD has unveiled an innovative 1 MW charging system for electric vehicles that allows them to recharge as quickly as petrol cars. The first models to receive this technology will appear in the Ocean lineup in the near future.
Image source: BYD
The new 1,000-volt platform, called the BYD Super e-Platform, was presented as a “revolutionary technology that will completely solve the biggest problem in electric vehicles.” Unlike Tesla, which currently uses an 800-volt architecture in select models, BYD introduced ultra-fast charging technology that can replenish 470 kilometers of range in just 5 minutes.
In addition to the advanced power supply technology, BYD also announced the creation of its own network of 1 MW (1000 V and 1000 A) charging stations. These stations will be designed specifically to support the new architecture and will provide more than three times the charging speed of the Tesla Supercharger V4. As a reminder, Tesla’s charging stations are capable of replenishing batteries for 275 km of travel in 15 minutes.
The new 1000-volt platform not only speeds up charging, but also opens up opportunities for creating more powerful and compact electric motors. For example, the company introduced a new 778-horsepower (580 kW) motor capable of rotating at up to 30,511 rpm. This power allows BYD electric vehicles to demonstrate impressive dynamics. For example, the heavy Tang L crossover accelerates to 60 miles per hour (about 97 km/h) in less than four seconds, and the Han L sedan reaches this speed in just 2.7 seconds – faster than the Tesla Model 3 Performance.
In addition to impressive performance and fast charging, BYD has also focused on the safety of its new vehicles. The battery design has been improved to withstand serious accidents without deforming, improving the overall safety of the brand’s electric vehicles.
The first models to feature the new charging architecture will be the Tang L SUV and Han L sedan from the Ocean series, which will debut this month.