BYD launches revolutionary fast charger while Tesla slumps

• BYD has unveiled a groundbreaking 1,000 kW EV charger that promises charge speeds as fast as refueling petrol cars.
• The Super-e charging platform could dramatically reduce “charging anxiety,” reshaping the future of electric vehicles.
• But, as BYD advances, Tesla faces increased pressure in the EV market amid mounting competition and geopolitical tensions.

BYD, the world’s biggest electric vehicle manufacturer, has unveiled a new charging station that enables cars to charge as quickly as it takes to fill a petrol car as Elon Musk’s Tesla continues to struggle.

The new charging technology, called ‘Super-e platform,’ is reportedly capable of charging speeds of 1,000 kW (1 megawatt).

That is around three times faster than most fast charging stations. These new charging stations combine a new Flash Charging Battery with new electric components that utilize a 1,000-volt architecture.

Additionally, BYD has also announced a pair of new models (the ‘Han” and ‘Tang’) capable of handling these charging speeds. The Han L sedan and Tang L SUV should be available for Chinese customers at around 270,000 yuan (£28,785).

These models should be able to travel 249 miles (400km) on a five-minute charge, BYD founder Wang Chuanfu said at an event live-streamed from the company’s Shenzhen headquarters on Monday.

Eliminating EV charge anxiety

 Chanfu was quoted saying that BYD’s goal is to make EV charging “as fast as refueling a gasoline car” and to ultimately achieve “oil-electric parity” in charging speed.

To this end, BYD has also announced its plans to roll out around 4,000 fast-charging stations across China. No timescale has been publicly announced for the project, and no projected costs have been announced.

These will reportedly supplement existing third-party charging stations that most BYD customers in China currently rely upon.

“This is the first time in the industry that the [megawatt unit] has been achieved on charging power,” Chanfu added.

Charging anxiety, also called ‘range anxiety’, is a barrier for EV adoption and speaks to the fear of running out of power without an available chargepoint.

If EV charging can be brought to almost on par with refilling times at a petrol station, then it should, in theory, dramatically increase EV sales worldwide.

But this is easier said than done. One of the main issues is that most EVs use lithium-ion battery technology, which tends to get damaged if regularly fast-charged.

Rapid charging comes at a cost

Rapid charging creates a lot of heat, accelerating the degradation of the battery’s internal materials and reducing its lifespan. If the temperature gets too hot, it can also potentially ignite the battery pack.

However, it is important to note that the chances of this occurring are very low, and modern EVs tend to be equipped with safety systems to prevent overcharging and dangerous overheating.

For this reason, most EV makers recommend slower charging overnight at home using EV-model compatible chargers. However, BYD’s new models appear designed explicitly for use with its new superfast charging stations, meaning the worst elements of fast charging batteries have likely been addressed.

At the time of writing, neither of BYD’s new models is available in the UK, but plans are afoot to bring them once a suitable network of Super-e is established.

According to reports, global markets responded positively to this news, with BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares gaining 4.1% on Tuesday (18th March 2025). This set a 408.80 Hong Kong dollar record, showing very real investor confidence in the company’s future in the industry.

This comes as one of BYD’s main competitors, Elon Musk’s Tesla, has been struggling. As of the time of writing, Tesla’s shares are down around 38% year-to-date, as investors worry about the company’s declining sales and feedback from Musk’s role in the Trump administration.

The market responds

Global stock markets have suffered since the beginning of the year. Reuters reports that Tesla stock is recovering, especially after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved Tesla’s application for a transportation charter-party carrier permit (TCP). 

As reported elsewhere, the prior Tesla share price slump is likely also a result of Tesla’s heightened investor pressure to produce autonomous vehicles, which Musk has promised but failed to deliver for about a decade.

It also faces increased competition with more affordable EV models, including those produced by BYD and other Chinese companies.

President Donald Trump’s close relationship with Elon Musk has particularly hurt Tesla’s image, leading consumers and businesses to turn away from American brands.

Fortune reports that one French CEO has canceled his order of 15 Tesla vehicles, citing US isolationist policies and Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration. Denmark, significantly impacted by threats toward Greenland, is also leading efforts with popular social media groups urging consumers to replace American products.

Danish supermarkets have even introduced labeling for European-made goods to accommodate consumer preferences.

Tesla versus BYD: who’ll win out?

Tesla’s equivalent to BYD’s new Super-e system, the V4 Supercharger, was first unveiled in 2023 and can deliver peak charging speeds of approximately 350 kW.

Although significantly slower than BYD’s 1,000 kW megawatt chargers, Tesla’s system still allows vehicles to regain about 115 miles (185 km) of range in just five minutes.

Tesla’s latest chargers utilize advanced liquid-cooling systems to manage battery temperatures, enhancing safety and longevity during rapid charging.

While Tesla remains a global leader in charging infrastructure with over 60,000 Superchargers worldwide, BYD’s new technology could challenge Tesla’s dominance by drastically reducing charging times even further.

Tesla has offered its superchargers in China since 2014 regarding China’s existing charging station ecosystem.

However, it has yet to outcompete domestic alternatives from BYD’s smaller Chinese peers, such as Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Zeekr, which have invested extensively in building charging facilities for years.

Written by

Christopher McFadden Contributor

Christopher is an Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) specialist with extensive experience advising consumer and trade clients on energy efficiency and sustainability.

With a Master’s in Earth Sciences from Cardiff University, Christopher has attained professional energy and sustainability auditing qualifications and various postgraduate certificates and diplomas. He is a qualified and accredited Level 3 and Level 4 non-domestic and domestic energy assessor, a Green Deal assessor, and a Practitioner member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). He also recently qualified as a level 5 Retrofit coordinator.

In addition to his day job, Christopher has also honed his skills as a STEM writer for several well-known online publishers, sharing his knowledge and passion for science, engineering, and dinosaurs with millions of readers around the world.

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Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

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