► BYD reveals 1000kW fast-charging tech
► Super e-Platform: 249 miles of range in 5mins
► UK roll-out confirmed by European boss
Chinese EV giant BYD has unveiled what it claims to be a game-changing ultra-fast charging system, potentially bringing electric vehicle charging times closer to those of petrol refuelling. The company also confirmed plans to establish its own charging network across China for the first time.
The new Super e-Platform is said to offer peak DC charging speeds of 1000kW – more than double the fastest rival charging platform and BYD claims it could add 249 miles (400km) of range in just five minutes. That’s a breakthrough that would ease one of the primary concerns for electric vehicle owners — long charging times.
The hypercharger tech was announced by founder Wang Chuanfu during a live-streamed event from BYD’s Shenzhen headquarters on 17 March 2025 and BYD’s European chief Stella Li has confirmed to CAR that the tech will be launched in the UK in the years ahead.
BYD Super e-Platform: how does it work?
To achieve these charging speeds, BYD has developed a suite of advanced technologies in its latest EV architecture for future models. These include batteries capable of handling a 10C charging rate — allowing them to charge at 10x their capacity per hour — along with high-power motors, high-voltage silicon carbide power chips and fast chargers that support up to 1000 kW of power.
According to Reuters, Chinese EV manufacturers are utilising fast-charging tech as a key selling point to entice buyers and ‘such technologies have been credited to contributing to the high adoption of EVs in China.’
Achieving a 1000kW peak charge rate is the holy grail: a ‘megawatt’ of power, meaning that 2km (1.2 miles) of range is added every second, according to BYD. The charger itself is unusually compact, taking up just 1.5sq m, and it comes with two plugs per pod.
The race for faster EV charging
BYD’s new charging technology positions the company ahead of many competitors in the EV market, with its charging speeds leapfrogging the 500 kW capability of Tesla’s latest Supercharger V4. This dramatic reduction in charging times could provide the Chinese manufacturer with a significant edge, addressing one of the key hurdles for widespread electric vehicle adoption: the time it takes to recharge.
‘The megawatt chargers will come to the UK,’ Li told CAR at an event in London. ‘We have two cars that will have the feature, but it will take several years for the chargers to arrive.’
BYD’s current UK line-up — the Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal, and Seal U — still runs on the existing e-Platform 3.0, which supports batteries up to 82.5kWh and charging speeds of up to 150kW. New models are arriving thick and fast, Li pledging a European line-up of 13 models within 18 months.
The new models debuting the hypercharger tech are the revised Han L saloon and Tang L SUV. They are due to launch in China later in 2025.