BYD launches Flash Chargers in the UK — charges an EV battery from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes

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BYD will introduce 300 Flash Charging stations in the UK over the next year.

Technology can charge a new EV battery from 10-97 percent in just 9 minutes.

The first eligible model to be sold in the UK will be the powerful Denza Z9 GT.

Owning an EV in the UK is about to become much more convenient. In the coming weeks, BYD will introduce its first Flash Charging stations in the country, dramatically reducing charging times and potentially convincing many to make the jump and purchase their first electric car.

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Unveiled earlier this year, BYD’s Flash Charging stations have already been deployed en masse across China and are now rolling out in Europe. Each charger includes two connectors, and when one is in use, peak charging speeds of 1,500 kW can be achieved. When both connectors are being used by two vehicles, each plug can supply up to 1,000 kW.

More: BYD Says Five-Minute Charging Adds 310 Miles, BMW Says Read The Fine Print

Charging speeds are extraordinary. It takes just five minutes to charge a battery pack from 10-70 percent, and a mere nine minutes to charge from 10-97 percent. Even in freezing temperatures of -30°C (-22°F), a 20-97 percent charge takes just 12 minutes.

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To get an idea on how far ahead of the pack that is, Tesla’s UK Supercharger network runs V2 units at 150 kW and V3 and V4 units at 250 kW. On a 250 kW post, a Model 3 needs around 25 to 30 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent, or 15 minutes to pick up roughly 170 miles (274 km) of range. V5 hardware is coming and will reach 500 kW, assuming your car can actually take it. That is still a third of what BYD is quoting.

World-Leading Battery Tech

The secret to these extraordinary charging speeds is the batteries . Each Flash Charger uses two on-site storage batteries, each with a capacity of 185 kWh. The energy from these batteries is then transferred to the vehicle. The storage batteries are charged and topped up via the grid at speeds of up to 560 kW.

BYD plans to install 300 Flash Charging stations across the UK over the next 12 months, focusing on BYD and Denza dealerships as well as motorway service stations and existing charging hubs. The brand’s first model to support 1,500 kW charging is the Denza Z9 GT. BYD’s latest-generation plug-in hybrid models with the Blade Battery 2.0 also support ultra-fast DC charging, starting with the D9 MPV.

Read: An Oil Giant Is Ripping Out Its Gas Pumps To Install BYD’s 1,500kW Flash Chargers

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Charging prices have not yet been announced. BYD says that owners of compatible vehicles will qualify for preferential electricity rates “that will be considerably lower than prevailing ultra-rapid charging retail prices” across the country. EVs from other brands will also be able to use the chargers, although they will have to pay more.

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