BYD, the Chinese automaker, introduced a new battery pack on Thursday that reportedly charges from 10% to 70% in five minutes, with near-full capacity achievable in four more minutes. Such rapid charging could eliminate electric vehicle charging time concerns, a remaining advantage of internal combustion engines. Even in cold conditions (–4˚ F or –20˚ C), BYD claims the battery can charge from 20% to 97% in less than 12 minutes. This new Blade Battery 2.0 system will debut in the Yangwang U7 luxury sedan.
However, these fast charging times require BYD’s new Flash Charging EV chargers. This innovation is expected to boost BYD’s sales amidst fierce competition in the Chinese EV market.
BYD was a key part of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway portfolio for years, with Berkshire selling its last shares in 2025, yielding over 20 times the original investment.
Currently the largest manufacturer of EVs globally, BYD faces competition from Tesla and other Chinese automakers. Despite leading rivals like LiAuto, Xpeng, Xiaomi, and Zeekr, BYD reported a sales decline of approximately 36% in the first two months of 2026 compared to the previous year.
The Blade Battery 2.0 uses lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry, potentially lowering EV costs by avoiding expensive metals like cobalt and nickel. Despite LFP’s lower energy density, BYD intends to broaden its appeal by accelerating charging.
BYD’s new Flash Charging system can provide 1.5 megawatts of electricity. Previous systems, like those for the Han L sedan, had different requirements. Most U.S. and European chargers are up to 350 kW, though 500 kW chargers are becoming more common.
The Flash charger uses overhead cables for convenience and serves both sides of the car. BYD has 4,200 such stations in China, planning to add 16,000 by year-end. Grid-scale batteries will support these stations.
The U7 sedan’s battery supports over 1,000 kilometers on the CLTC cycle, roughly 621 miles. However, real-world range is closer to 400 miles. This range is less than the Lucid Air Grand Touring’s 512 miles per EPA tests, but the ability to add 240 miles in five minutes could render range comparisons less significant.