Beijing, China: Shares of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD skyrocketed to an all-time high on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following the unveiling of its groundbreaking “Super e-Platform” battery and charging system. The technology, revealed by BYD founder Wang Chuanfu during a Monday evening launch event, promises to charge an EV in just five minutes—matching the time it takes to refuel a traditional petrol car—potentially revolutionizing the industry.
The Super e-Platform boasts an impressive peak charging speed of 1,000 kW, doubling the capacity of Tesla’s Superchargers, which currently max out at 500 kW. According to BYD, this innovation allows vehicles to gain a range of up to 470 kilometers (292 miles) after a mere five-minute charge. “Our pursuit is to make the charging time of electric vehicles as short as the refueling time of fuel vehicles,” Wang stated, emphasizing the company’s goal to eliminate “charging anxiety” for EV users.
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The announcement sent BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares surging over 6% at their peak Tuesday morning, though gains later moderated slightly. Alongside the new platform, BYD introduced two models—the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV—that will debut the ultra-fast charging system. The Shenzhen-based automaker also revealed plans to construct over 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations across China to support the rollout.
BYD’s breakthrough comes amid a stellar performance, with February sales soaring 161% to over 318,000 EVs, starkly contrasting Tesla’s 49% sales drop in China during the same period. This positions BYD as a formidable rival to Elon Musk’s Tesla in the fiercely competitive EV market.
In related news, Chinese EV maker Nio announced a partnership with battery giant CATL on Tuesday to develop a passenger car battery swap network. The deal, involving a potential $346 million investment from CATL, explores an alternative to fast charging by allowing drivers to swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones. However, experts note that battery swapping faces significant challenges, including infrastructure costs and standardization issues. As China’s EV sector heats up, BYD’s latest innovation could set a new benchmark for convenience and performance.
Key Points: BYD Unveils 5-Minute Charging Platform, Stock Soars
- Breakthrough Technology: On March 17, 2025, Chinese EV giant BYD unveiled its “Super e-Platform,” a battery and charging system that can charge a vehicle in five minutes, matching the refueling time of petrol cars.
- Charging Specs: The platform delivers a peak charging speed of 1,000 kW, enabling a range of 470 kilometers (292 miles) after a five-minute charge, outpacing Tesla’s 500 kW Superchargers.
- Company Vision: BYD founder Wang Chuanfu highlighted the technology’s aim to “fundamentally solve users’ charging anxiety” by aligning EV charging times with traditional refueling.
- Stock Surge: BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares jumped over 6% to a record high on March 18, 2025, following the announcement, though gains later moderated.
- New Models: The Super e-Platform will debut in two new BYD models: the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV.
- Infrastructure Expansion: BYD plans to build over 4,000 ultra-fast charging stations across China to support the new technology.
- Market Performance: BYD reported a 161% sales increase in February, reaching over 318,000 EVs, while Tesla saw a 49% sales decline in China during the same period.
- Competitive Edge: The innovation strengthens BYD’s position against Tesla in the global EV market.
- Related Development: On March 18, 2025, rival Nio partnered with CATL to develop a battery swap network, with CATL investing up to 2.5 billion yuan ($346 million), offering an alternative to fast charging despite infrastructure challenges.
