A Chinese car manufacturer has announced it has conquered one of the greatest obstacles to widespread electric car ownership. BYD claims to have developed a new 'flash-charge' technology that could significantly reduce charging times, addressing a major concern for potential electric vehicle (EV) buyers in the UK.
The breakthrough technology
BYD says its system, which uses a 1,000-volt battery architecture, can charge an electric car from 10% to 70% in approximately five minutes. The company also stated that the same technology could take a battery from 10% to 97% in just nine minutes. While still slower than refuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle, this represents a dramatic improvement on current charging speeds.
Stella Li, BYD's executive vice president, told the i newspaper: 'With the flash-charge technology we can equally compete with the gas car. Before, in places like the UK, 70 percent of the market was untouchable to us... This tech removes the final barrier for people to jump into an electric car.'
BYD's growing UK presence
The announcement comes as BYD's presence in the UK market surges. The brand's sales have rocketed by 485% in the past year alone, giving them a 3.3% share of the total UK market. This growth aligns with broader trends in EV adoption across the country.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that two million electric vehicles have been registered in the UK, representing a 59% increase compared to April last year. Electric cars now command roughly a 26% share of the UK market.
Market challenges and targets
Despite this progress, the SMMT noted that EV uptake still falls short of what is required ahead of the government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. In a statement, the SMMT said: 'BEV uptake reached a robust 26.2% share of registrations in the month - an impressive performance albeit in a typically low volume month. Year to date, BEVs comprise 23.1 percent of the overall new car market, significantly short of the 33 percent required by the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, despite billions in manufacturer discounts and the introduction of the Electric Car Grant last year.'
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes commented: 'Two million electric car registrations is a considerable milestone to celebrate, although natural demand is still well below the level demanded by the mandate.'
BYD's flash-charge technology could help bridge this gap by alleviating consumer concerns about charging time, potentially accelerating the transition to electric mobility in the UK and beyond.
