Fill up your EV in Five Minutes
Before we get into the details, a bit of charging education is in order. The average all-electric car on the market today is capable of charging on Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 DC Fast charging. Level 1 charging on 120 current at home charges at 2.3 kW and a full charge could take 42 hours. Level 2 charging on 220 current cuts the charges at 7 kW and takes 13 hours for a full charge. Stepping up to a Level 3 DC Public Fast Charger can offer between 50 and 350 kW can add 100 to 250 miles of range in just half an hour.
However, charging speed isn’t just about the charger, it also has a lot to do with your EV’s charge rate. Some can charge at up to 150 kW, but BYD is changing the game by producing a new battery pack and charger combination that can deliver 1,000 kilowatts.
BYD’s Super E platform includes a lithium-ion phosphate blade battery and a pair of new high revving motors that can deliver over 1,084 horsepower. The “flash charge” battery which is designed to allow the faster transfer of ions through the diaphragm. They support 1,000 volts and 1,000 amps, allowing an output of 1,000 kilowatts.
Many of today’s EVs can charge on Level 3 DC Fast Charging from 10 to 80 percent in about a half an hour. But BYD tells us that cars using their new charging tech will be able to add 248 miles of range in just five minutes!
The Truth about Charging Speed
While these are astounding claims, anyone who owns an EV will tell you that charge times often change depending on a number of different variables. Factors include battery temperature, state of charge, how many cars are charging from the same hardware or the even the capability of the electric grid itself. With that in mind, BYD’s 1,000 kilowatts figure may well be a best-case scenario.
Tesla’s V4 Supercharger
Naturally, other electric automakers are racing toward better and faster charging as well. For instance, Tesla recently announced its V4 Superchargers which claim to deliver 250 kilowatts to some of its current EV models including the Cybertruck. These chargers will support higher speeds in the future, up to 500 kilowatts for cars and over 1,000 kilowatts for Tesla’s semi-trucks.
We are in a situation where these next generation chargers will offer more charging speed that most of our present EVs can utilize. But EV technology is moving at light speed. Soon, range anxiety and charging anxiety will truly be a thing of the past.
🔋 The Fast Lane to Charging Knowledge
New to EVs? Start here. A simple breakdown of Level 1, 2, and DC Fast Charging—what they are, how they work, and when to use them.
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Waiting for a charge doesn’t have to be boring. Explore how stations are becoming mini-destinations.
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Curious if all that speed is hurting your EV’s battery? Get the facts on how fast charging impacts longevity.
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