How BYD plans to make EV charging as fast as filling a gas tank

Tech Crunch - Mar 21st, 2025

Chinese automaker BYD has announced a groundbreaking development in electric vehicle (EV) technology with its new Han L sedan, which reportedly can add up to 248 miles of range in just five minutes of charging. This claim hinges on the vehicle's advanced internal electrical infrastructure, particularly its 83.2 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack that operates at 945 volts. Despite limited details from BYD, the combination of their experience with LFP batteries and the car's dual charging ports allows it to charge at up to 1 megawatt. However, these range figures are based on the optimistic Chinese CLTC test cycle, and real-world performance might be more modest.

The implications of this development are significant for the EV market, as it highlights the potential for faster charging times to make electric vehicles more competitive with traditional gasoline cars. BYD plans to install over 4,000 of these high-capacity charging stations across China, although infrastructure upgrades will be necessary to support them. While the Han L is unlikely to reach the U.S. market soon due to high tariffs, the advancement underscores a global trend toward reducing EV charging times. This innovation could eventually influence other automakers and lead to faster charging options becoming more widely available worldwide.

China Fast Charging Electric Vehicles Byd Han L Sedan Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

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RATING

6.4

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a compelling look at BYD's advancements in electric vehicle charging technology, highlighting the potential for significant improvements in charging speed. It presents a mix of factual claims and speculative insights, supported by secondary sources but lacking direct confirmation from BYD. The story is timely and addresses a topic of public interest, with implications for consumer behavior and environmental policy. While the article is clear and engaging, its reliance on optimistic test cycle results and the absence of direct evidence from BYD limit its overall impact. The piece could benefit from a more balanced exploration of potential challenges and a broader range of perspectives to enhance its credibility and depth.

Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims about BYD's new Han L sedan and its charging capabilities. The claim that the car can add 248 miles of range in five minutes is partially supported by the article, but it notes that this is based on the CLTC test cycle, which is known to be optimistic. The story acknowledges this by suggesting a more realistic range of 160 miles. The details about the battery's voltage and chemistry are consistent with industry knowledge about LFP batteries, which are known for stability and fast charging capabilities. However, the article lacks direct confirmation from BYD, as the company did not respond to requests for clarification. The use of a dual gun charging approach is intriguing but requires further verification about its practical implementation and safety. Overall, while the article provides a coherent narrative, it relies heavily on secondary sources and lacks direct evidence from BYD.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on the technical aspects of BYD's new vehicle and its potential implications for the EV market. It provides a detailed look at the advantages of the Han L's fast-charging capabilities but does not equally explore potential downsides or challenges, such as the environmental impact of high-voltage infrastructure or the feasibility of widespread adoption. The piece could have benefited from including perspectives from industry experts or competitors to provide a more rounded view of the implications of such technology. Additionally, while it mentions the optimistic nature of the CLTC test cycle, the article could delve deeper into how this affects consumer expectations and market trust.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, providing a logical flow of information from the announcement of BYD's claims to the technical details of the Han L's charging capabilities. The language is accessible to a general audience, with technical terms explained in a straightforward manner. The use of comparisons, such as those with existing EV charging technologies and test cycles, helps contextualize the information. However, the article could benefit from clearer distinctions between verified facts and speculative or unverified claims to avoid potential confusion.

Source quality

The article relies on a mix of direct claims from BYD and secondary sources such as CarNewsChina and InsideEVs. While these sources are relevant to the automotive industry, the lack of direct quotes or data from BYD itself weakens the article's credibility. The absence of responses from BYD to TechCrunch's inquiries leaves certain claims unverified, which could impact the reliability of the information presented. The inclusion of technical information, such as the battery chemistry and charging infrastructure, from credible industry sources adds some authority to the article, but the overall source quality is mixed due to the reliance on secondary information.

Transparency

The article is transparent about the limitations of the information available, noting that BYD did not respond to requests for clarification. It also openly discusses the optimistic nature of the CLTC test cycle and provides a more realistic estimate of the car's range. However, the article could improve its transparency by clearly stating the basis of its technical claims and the potential biases of the secondary sources it relies upon. While it does provide some context about the challenges of implementing high-power charging infrastructure, more detailed explanations of the methodologies or assumptions behind the claims would enhance transparency.