BYD, China’s top electric vehicle (EV) maker, introduced a new 1,000-volt EV platform on Monday, claiming it delivers around 400 kilometres of range with just a 5-minute charge. The Shenzhen-based company explained that vehicles on this super e-platform, capable of charging at 1,000 kilowatts, can power up as fast as refuelling a petrol car.Founder Wang Chuanfu shared this detail during a live-streamed event from BYD’s headquarters, saying, “Cars powered by the super e-platform with peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts can travel 400 kilometres (249 miles) on a 5-minute charge.”
To make this technology work across China, BYD plans to install more than 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations, though it hasn’t provided a timeline or funding details for the project, as per Reuters report.
The company’s announcement aligns with its strong market presence—Bloomberg reports that China, the world’s biggest car market, saw nearly 11 million electric and hybrid vehicle sales last year, up 40% from 2023, with BYD accounting for about 4.2 million of those. This performance helped BYD’s quarterly revenue exceed Tesla’s for the first time in the third quarter.In addition to charging improvements, BYD had recently announced that it is rolling out “God’s Eye” autonomous driving system to 21 models, including the affordable Seagull hatchback, which starts at 69,800 yuan ($9,550). This brings advanced features to cars priced below $10,000, unlike Tesla’s Model 3, which costs over $32,000 in China.
To make this technology work across China, BYD plans to install more than 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations, though it hasn’t provided a timeline or funding details for the project, as per Reuters report.
The company’s announcement aligns with its strong market presence—Bloomberg reports that China, the world’s biggest car market, saw nearly 11 million electric and hybrid vehicle sales last year, up 40% from 2023, with BYD accounting for about 4.2 million of those. This performance helped BYD’s quarterly revenue exceed Tesla’s for the first time in the third quarter.In addition to charging improvements, BYD had recently announced that it is rolling out “God’s Eye” autonomous driving system to 21 models, including the affordable Seagull hatchback, which starts at 69,800 yuan ($9,550). This brings advanced features to cars priced below $10,000, unlike Tesla’s Model 3, which costs over $32,000 in China.
The system has three levels: God’s Eye C, with 12 cameras, five wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic radars for BYD’s main brand; God’s Eye B, adding LiDAR for the upscale Denza and Fang Cheng Bao lines; and God’s Eye A, with three LiDAR sensors and the DiPilot 600 system for the luxury Yangwang range.
BYD is also partnering with AI startup DeepSeek to add software that enhances vehicle smarts and tailors the driving experience, a step analysts believe could fuel China’s ongoing EV price competition as companies fight for buyers.
