Chinese automakers, like BYD, are entering the race for ultra-fast charging of electric vehicles (EVs), a key strategy for seducing buyers and standing out in an ultra-competitive market. By unveiling a megawatt charging system capable, according to the company, of recharging a battery as quickly as a full tank of petrol, BYD aims to redefine the experience of EV drivers and strengthen its grip on the sector.
Ultra-fast charging: a major psychological leap
One of the main concerns of drivers skeptical of electric vehicles is range anxiety: the fear of ending up with a flat battery on a long journey. To remedy this, automakers are vying with each other to innovate, relying on technologies such as ultra-fast recharging and instant battery replacement.
In China, where EV adoption has accelerated in recent years, these advances have become real selling points. Faced with this growing demand, Chinese automakers are stepping up their efforts to offer ever faster and more accessible recharging solutions. Tesla, a major player in the sector, is also developing ultra-fast charging stations to enhance the user experience.
Revolutionary BYD technology?
BYD's new system, dubbed "super e-platform", promises impressive performance: a peak charge of 1,000 kW, enabling some vehicles to travel 400 km with just 5 minutes' recharging. To achieve such a result, the company has developed a number of innovations, including 10C fast-charge batteries - capable of being recharged at 10 times their rated capacity - high-power motors, silicon carbide chips and 1,000 kW chargers.
By way of comparison, Tesla uses a 400-volt system offering a maximum recharging power of 250 kW for most of its models. Only its Cybertruck (800V, 350 kW max) and its Semi truck (1,000V) come close to the performance claimed by BYD. Other Chinese brands, such as Zeekr, Li Auto and Xpeng, have also developed fast-charging technologies, but none has yet reached the 1,000 kW mark.
Why does BYD want to build its own charging network?
Until now, BYD, which holds over a third of the EV market share in China, has largely relied on public charging infrastructures or those of other manufacturers. But with its new technology, the company believes it needs to deploy its own chargers to guarantee optimum performance. It therefore plans to build more than 4,000 charging stations across China, while seeking investors to speed up deployment.
BYD, however, has some catching up to do. Nio, another Chinese manufacturer, already has the densest charging network in the country, with almost 2,700 fast charging stations. Tesla, which has been present in China since 2014, operates over 2,000 stations and 11,500 Superchargers. Li Auto, Xpeng and Zeekr are also investing heavily in expanding their own infrastructures.
Even players from outside the automotive sector, such as Huawei, are positioning themselves in this market. The company has designed ultra-fast, liquid-cooled charging stations capable of delivering up to 600 kW, suitable for vehicles running on 1,000-volt electrical architecture. By 2024, Huawei had already deployed over 50,000 charging stations across China.
A challenge for the power grid
While ultra-fast charging represents a considerable advance for drivers, it also poses major infrastructure challenges. Massive adoption of this technology is likely to exert increased pressure on the power grid, requiring substantial investment to modernize and stabilize the energy supply.
Aware of this problem, BYD plans to equip its charging stations with energy storage units to reduce the impact on the grid. However, this solution comes at a cost, which could slow down deployment and complicate the profitability of these infrastructures.
