BYD Targets Range Anxiety With New EV Battery That Charges in 9 Minutes
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BYD unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery on Friday. Photo: VCG
After a six-year gap, BYD Co. Ltd. unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery and compatible flash-charging technology on Friday, promising to power up an electric vehicle (EV) from 10% to 97% in under nine minutes to rival the refueling speed of gasoline cars.
The move comes as the EV industry attempts to overcome the range anxiety that continues to deter Chinese car buyers from switching to EVs, pitting BYD’s ultra-fast charging strategy directly against the battery-swapping models championed by rivals like Nio Inc. and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.
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- BYD unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery and flash-charging stations, enabling 10%–97% EV charging in under nine minutes and increasing energy density by 5%.
- BYD plans to build 20,000 flash-charging stations in China by 2026 at a cost of tens of billions of yuan, aiming for a station every 100 km across a third of highways.
- The new battery reportedly exceeds upcoming safety standards, supports a 1,036-kilometer range, and will be supplied to other automakers.
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Who’s Who
- BYD Co. Ltd.
- BYD Co. Ltd. (比亚迪股份有限公司) has unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery and flash-charging technology, allowing EVs to charge from 10% to 97% in under nine minutes. The company plans to build 20,000 flash-charging stations by end of 2026. This initiative addresses range anxiety and aims to rival gasoline car refueling speeds. The new Blade Battery also boasts increased energy density and enhanced safety features.
- Nio Inc.
- Nio Inc. is a rival of BYD in the EV industry. Nio champions battery-swapping models to address range anxiety among Chinese car buyers, a strategy that contrasts with BYD's ultra-fast charging approach. Nio's Chairman, Li Bin, has expressed skepticism about BYD's hybrid charging stations, citing potential energy loss.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) is mentioned as a rival to BYD Co. Ltd. in the electric vehicle industry. CATL, like Nio Inc., champions battery-swapping models to address range anxiety among Chinese car buyers, contrasting with BYD's ultra-fast charging strategy.
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What Happened When
- 2025：
- An earlier BYD fast-charging rollout met lukewarm demand due to insufficient infrastructure support.
- By the end of January 2026：
- China had 20.7 million EV charging facilities, according to the National Energy Administration.
- March 6, 2026：
- BYD unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery and compatible flash-charging technology.
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