A new electric vehicle charging system developed by China’s BYD promises to be a game changer in the EV marketplace.
The new Megawatt Flash Charging System promises to provide 400 kilometres of driving for only five minutes of charging. Indeed, BYD’s new chargers offer a rate of 80 kms per minute plugged in.
In contrast, under optimal conditions, Tesla’s existing Superchargers provide enough power for 275 km of driving for every 15 minutes at the outlet, for a ratio of 18 km per minute.
Furthermore, Tesla is not only behind BYD in terms of charging efficiency. Out of the seven EV manufacturers research group Finbold examined, five ranged above Elon Musk’s car company.
The ranking shows that Li Auto, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Hyundai are all ahead.
Though the optimal condition charging positions BYD’s novel Megawatt Flash Charging as the fastest available option, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced picture.
As is frequently the case, the devil is in the detail, and there is a substantial variance in the actual speed between the differing outlet types, whether it is a slow or fast charging station or even atmospheric conditions.
The differing results drivers can expect based on geography are also evident in the fact that most EV makers don’t operate their own infrastructure, and even those that do – such as Tesla – can be plugged into most chargers with the appropriate adapter.
Lastly, China emerges at the top spot once again in terms of the available station network, as the majority of charges available worldwide are located in the People’s Republic.
However, in terms of density, certain Western nations, such as the Netherlands, are strong competitors for the top spot.