BYD says its new battery can charge 470km range in 5 mins

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD said it has a new battery and charging system that can charge its cars as fast as it takes to refuel a regular one.

BYD’s new battery and charging system managed to achieve 470km of range in five minutes following tests on its new Han L sedan, chairman and founder Wang Chuanfu said on Mar. 17, Bloomberg reported.

The manufacturer will start selling vehicles with the new technology in April 2025.

The first models to get the ultra-fast charging will be the Han L and the Tang L sport utility vehicle.

They will start at 270,000 yuan (S$49,700) and 280,000 yuan (S$51,600), respectively.

Shares of BYD jumped to a new record following the unveiling.

Possible gamer changer for EVs

This could prove to be a game changer if works as advertised given the resistance to electric vehicles owing to their relatively long charging times that can last hours.

This feature could further boost sales for BYD, which has come from behind U.S. manufacturer Tesla to be the world’s top EV seller.

The number of Tesla shipments in China fell 49 per cent in February from a year earlier to just 30,688 vehicles, the lowest monthly figure since in July 2022, Bloomberg added.

How BYD fares

The race to charge EVs faster is on.

Tesla’s Superchargers can add up to 275km of range in 15 minutes of charging.

Mercedes-Benz Group’s new entry-level CLA electric sedan unveiled in March 2025 can add 325km of range in 10 minutes of charging.

Super fast charging gives EVs the boost it needs to go fast.

BYD’s new EV platform will allow cars to reach 100kmh in 2 seconds, Wang said at the event at the company’s headquarters in Shenzhen.

BYD surging ahead in sales

BYD has been surging ahead with its sales worldwide selling only hybrid and fully electric cars.

The company sold more than 318,000 passenger vehicles in February 2025, up 161 per cent from a year earlier.

It is the top carmaker in China with a share approaching 15 per cent.

BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares are up about 45 per cent in 2025.

China's car market is the world’s biggest.

BYD is also becoming a market leader in advanced driver-assistance technology.

The company said earlier in 2025 that some of its cheapest models will have lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control features.

Top photo via BYD