BYD To Install Thousands of 5-Minute EV Chargers Across Europe

BYD plans to install 3,000 ultra-fast “Flash Chargers” across Europe by the end of 2027, with the first stations already appearing in Germany and the UK. The Verge reports: At an estimated cost of 580,000 euros (about $670,000) per charger according to the Financial Times, that would mean a total spend of roughly $2 billion to install the network. The 1,500kW charging stations are significantly more powerful than Tesla’s 500kW V4 Superchargers, though Tesla already has 20,000 chargers installed in Europe. BYD, which has been steadily overtaking Tesla in global sales, says its chargers shouldn’t add undue strain to the energy grid, as they’ll charge cars from batteries which can be topped up overnight.

Any car with a standard CCS charge port can use the Flash Chargers, though only BYD cars equipped with the company’s new Blade Battery can hit the top speeds. Right now there’s only one of those in Europe, the 115,000 euros ($133,000) Denza Z9 GT — it charges to 70 percent in five minutes on the new chargers.