Major Chinese car brand BYD has launched new technology that could charge an electric car in less than 10 minutes, a major step forward for the automaker.
BYD said it had created the "world's most advanced power battery", allowing drivers to charge their electric vehicles in roughly the same time as it takes to refuel a petrol or diesel vehicle.
The new Flash Charger can use 1,500kW of power to recharge a battery from 10 per cent to 97 per cent in just nine minutes.
The technology has also been tested in extreme conditions, with research showing the charger can refuel from 20 per cent to 97 per cent in 12 minutes in -30C temperatures.
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When paired with a Blade Battery 2.0, motorists can travel for hundreds of miles without having to worry about running out of battery.
BYD also praised a five per cent gain in energy density, allowing for impressive ranges of more than 1,000km or 621 miles, based on the Chinese CLTC efficiency test.
The latest breakthroughs in Flash Charging and the Blade Battery foundation have been developed by BYD for six years.
A new "FlashPass" Ion Transport System is being used to "push the boundaries" of lithium iron phosphate batteries inside the electric vehicles.
BYD has unveiled the new Flash Charger, which can recharge an EV in just nine minutes
|BYD
The technology includes a new "Flash-Flow" electrolyte that uses artificial intelligence to optimise the cells in the battery.
BYD reported that these advancements had led to "significantly reduced" internal resistance, reducing the amount of heat generation.
Alongside the technological improvements and new features in the batteries, BYD has managed to reduce degradation by 2.5 per cent, compared to the previous generation of Blade Battery.
The Shenzhen-based company has already installed 4,329 Flash charging stations across China, with grand plans for 20,000 to be in operation by the end of 2026.
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BYD said it would look to roll out the Flash Chargers around the world in the near future
|BYD
The charging devices are supported by an ultra-fast-discharge energy storage system that allows the device to remain operational, even when there are grid restrictions.
The battery is recharged at slower speeds and acts as an "energy reservoir" to prevent the grid from being overloaded.
The unique charging stations include a T-shaped design to minimise connectors and cables getting dirty or wet from contact with the ground.
Drivers will use a pulley-based, rail-sliding cable to make it easier to connect their vehicle to the charger, which also helps to minimise any potential contaminants.
The Denza Z9GT is expected to launch in Europe later this year
| DENZABYD has confirmed that its Flash Charging technology and Blade Battery 2.0 technology will be rolled out to European customers through the Denza Z9GT.
Denza, BYD's premium brand, announced that it would be unveiling further details about the European specification of the flagship Z9GT in the coming weeks.
The automaker also stated that it was "committed" to making its Flash Chargers available around the world, with overseas plans set to be announced "in due course".
Motorists in the UK continue to invest in BYD's growing range of vehicles, with 6,175 new registrations in the first two months of the year. This represents 2.64 per cent of the total new market share, and a huge 121 per cent sales increase year-on-year.