Electric vehicle giant BYD
unveiled a new charging system in China on Monday, intensifying already fierce competition in the world’s largest auto market and propelling it further ahead of rivals such as Tesla. The Shenzhen-based automaker touted its system, dubbed “Super E-Platform,” as being able to charge its latest models in just five minutes, allowing them to go 250 miles. To support the new technology, BYD plans to build 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations across China.
By comparison, Tesla’s Superchargers take 15 minutes to charge and provide a range of 200 miles.
“Our goal is to make EV charging as fast as refueling a gasoline car,” BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu said at the
launch event. Pre-orders for BYD’s new models equipped with the latest charging technology began on Monday, with deliveries set to start next month.
