BYD debuts second-gen blade battery with 5-minute flash charge

BYD has introduced its first major battery upgrade in six years and outlined plans to expand its fast-charging network, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker seeks to regain momentum following a slump in domestic sales. The company’s second-generation Blade Battery can charge from 20% to 97% in under 12 minutes and operate at temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, chairman Wang Chuanfu said at an event in Shenzhen. The battery provides a driving range of 777 km.

According to Wang, the higher-density battery can extend the range of BYD’s Denza Z9GT and Yangwang U7 models to more than 1,000 km and has passed safety tests exceeding China’s latest national standards. BYD also plans to expand its “Flash Charging” network to 20,000 stations by the end of 2026, including 2,000 on highways. The company had built more than 4,000 stations as of March 5. During a three-hour livestream event, BYD introduced more than 10 models equipped with the new Blade Battery across its brands. Prices range from 155,000 yuan ($22,463.44) for the Song Ultra EV to 1.3 million yuan for the Yangwang U8L.

Despite the technology upgrade, analysts said the new lineup may not immediately reverse the company’s declining sales as consumers in China increasingly favour lower-priced vehicles. “Given the weakness in the Chinese EV market, we don’t expect share to be easily recovered and remain watchful to see how volumes play out,” said Eugene Hsiao, an analyst at Macquarie.

BYD shares in Hong Kong rose 1.2% in morning trade on Friday, while the company’s Shenzhen-listed shares fell 0.3%. The battery launch comes as Beijing encourages automakers to shift toward a value-driven market, aiming to move companies away from price wars and towards more differentiated products. China is also seeking to double its charging infrastructure within three years. BYD has aligned with the policy and has introduced longer-range plug-in hybrids and seven-year low-interest financing plans, similar to offers from Tesla.

However, the company has yet to recover from a decline in domestic sales, which Chinese media previously linked to weakening technological leadership. Early 2025 innovation initiatives did not stop the slide that began in the second half of 2025. Sales fell further in January and February this year, when BYD was overtaken by rival Geely.

The end of China’s purchase tax exemption for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids has also benefited traditional automakers, with Volkswagen regaining the top-selling position in China in January. Last year, BYD introduced assisted-driving features on models priced below $10,000 and promoted a five-minute super-charging system aimed at competing with Tesla’s charging technology. It also launched the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV in April. Combined sales of the two models reached about 49,000 units by January, a small share of BYD’s total sales of 3.76 million vehicles during the same period.