Touring BYD’s HQ and Realizing the Technology Arsenal It Has (Part 2) – CleanTechnica

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This is my second article on the recent visit of a large but select group of journalists to BYD’s Shenzhen factory and headquarters, and to the Zhengzhou tech center in China.

I saw and experienced BYD’s groundbreaking electric vehicle innovations first-hand at the company’s technology showcases and at the Zhengzhou proving grounds in China. The company is addressing the two fundamental barriers to EV adoption: charging speed and range anxiety.

Of course, there is also the matter of vehicle performance and hypercars, but that is a totally different circuit to talk about.

BYD’s Megawatt Flash Charging

The most significant barrier to widespread EV adoption remains the time spent charging. BYD’s answer is its Megawatt (MW) Flash Charging system, a technological leap designed to make charging time comparable to a trip to the gas station.

This breakthrough is built on the company’s proprietary Super e-Platform, a comprehensive overhaul of its electric architecture. It includes:

• Full-Domain 1000V Architecture: The entire vehicle’s high-voltage system—including the battery, motor, air conditioning, and power supply—is engineered to operate at 1000V (volts). This is a substantial step up from the industry-leading 800V systems used by other manufacturers.
• 1 MW Charging Power: The system is capable of delivering 1,000 kW (1 MW) of power by combining ultra-high voltage and an unprecedented current of up to 1,000A (amps).
• The Flash Charging Battery (10C Rate): The Blade Battery cells have been redesigned with ultra-fast ion channels, reducing internal resistance by 50%. This allows the battery to accept an extreme 10C charging rate, meaning it can theoretically charge from empty to full in just six minutes. In practical terms, this translates to adding 400 kilometers of range in just five minutes.
• Integrated Silicon Carbide (SiC) Chips: To manage the ultra-high power, BYD developed its own next-generation automotive-grade SiC power chips with a voltage rating of up to 1500V, dramatically reducing energy conversion losses.

Charging infrastructure strategy

To support this cutting-edge technology, BYD has embarked on a massive buildout of charging infrastructure across China. Beyond its initial plan to install 4,000 proprietary 1 MW stations, the company has announced partnerships with major operators like Xiaoju Charging and Xindietu/LongShine to deploy an additional 15,000 megawatt-level chargers. This strategic expansion aims to ensure that compatible vehicles, such as the new Han L and Tang L models, can utilize their rapid-charging capabilities nationwide. Furthermore, BYD’s intelligent voltage boost and dual-gun technology are designed to maximize charging speeds even on existing public charging infrastructure.

 Blade Battery technology

While the flash charging capability represents the latest advancement, BYD’s journey in battery technology has been marked by continuous innovation that has redefined industry safety and performance standards.

BYD’s revolutionary Blade Battery technology has already established new benchmarks in EV safety and efficiency. The unique blade-shaped design provides space utilization more than 50% higher than that of conventional batteries, providing higher energy density and longer driving range. This innovation has been so significant that it earned BYD the Innovation of the Year award in 2024, recognizing its impact in making electric vehicles safer and more practical.

BYD’s commitment to battery innovation extends far beyond current achievements. BYD is said to be working on an unspecified “6C battery,” with the “C” indicating the ratio of battery size to charging capacity. Looking ahead, BYD is preparing to launch the second generation of its Blade Battery by 2025, offering energy density up to 210 Wh/kg, an improvement from its current 150 Wh/kg, plus 8C ultra-fast charging, enabling a full charge in about 7.5 minutes.

Even more ambitiously, the company is now developing next-generation solid-state batteries, which promise higher energy density, longer lifespan, and improved safety. These developments position BYD at the forefront of what many consider the next major breakthrough in battery technology.

High-Performance electric motor innovation

BYD’s technological prowess extends beyond batteries to revolutionary motor technology that rivals the most advanced automotive manufacturers. To compete with startup EV makers in the development of high-performance drive units, BYD has launched a new electric motor capable of reaching 30,511 rpm. The new rear motor produces a maximum output of 580 kW and boasts top speeds exceeding 300 km/h.

This motor technology enables BYD’s flagship models to compete directly with luxury performance vehicles while maintaining the efficiency and reliability that has become synonymous with the brand. The extreme RPM capability represents a significant engineering achievement that demonstrates BYD’s ability to push the boundaries of electric drivetrain technology.

DM-i Hybrid technology

While pure electric vehicles capture headlines, BYD’s hybrid technology represents an equally important innovation that addresses range anxiety and charging infrastructure limitations. BYD’s DM-i hybrid technology stands for Dual Mode-intelligent, emphasizing an electric-first approach in hybrid vehicles. This system uses high-power electric motors, large-capacity batteries, and supplementary internal combustion engines.

The electric-first philosophy

BYD Super DM Technology differs from other PHEV technologies. At the heart of BYD Super DM Technology is an electric-based hybrid system. This hybrid architecture uses a high-power motor drive and large-capacity power battery as its primary power source, only using the engine for assistance.

This approach represents a fundamental shift from traditional hybrid systems that rely primarily on internal combustion engines with electric assistance. By prioritizing electric power, BYD’s DM-i system delivers the efficiency and smoothness of electric driving while providing the range security of a backup combustion engine.

Evolution to DM-i 5.0

The latest iteration of this technology continues to evolve. BYD’s DM system is a series-parallel hybrid system where either the electric motor or the engine can power the car. This flexibility allows the system to optimize power delivery based on driving conditions, maximizing efficiency in urban environments while providing robust performance for highway driving.

BYD’s approach to automotive innovation goes beyond individual components to create integrated technological ecosystems. BYD has continuously attained higher sales records thanks to its core technologies, such as the Blade Battery, the DM-i technology, and e-platform 3.0.

The e-platform 3.0 represents BYD’s holistic approach to electric vehicle architecture, integrating battery technology, motor systems, electronic control units, and charging systems into a cohesive platform that maximizes efficiency and performance while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.

Energy storage leadership

BYD’s technological innovations extend beyond personal transportation to grid-scale energy storage solutions. The company has leveraged its battery expertise to become a major player in renewable energy storage, with projects that utilize the same core technologies developed for automotive applications.

According to Wang Chuanfu, BYD did so in light of a business philosophy that technology is used to reduce costs and improve quality. This philosophy has enabled BYD to make advanced technology accessible to mainstream consumers rather than restricting it to luxury segments.

The integration of these various technological advances—from ultra-fast charging and next-generation batteries to high-performance motors and intelligent hybrid systems—positions BYD as more than just another automaker. The company has become a comprehensive technology platform that is reshaping expectations for what electric and hybrid vehicles can achieve.

The future of mobility

BYD’s technological revolution demonstrates that the future of transportation will be defined not by single breakthrough innovations, but by the intelligent integration of multiple advanced systems. From addressing range anxiety with megawatt charging to providing flexibility through advanced hybrid technology, BYD is creating comprehensive solutions that make electric mobility practical and appealing for diverse global markets.

As the automotive industry continues its transformation toward electrification, BYD’s multi-faceted approach to innovation—combining revolutionary charging speeds, next-generation battery chemistry, high-performance electric motors, and intelligent hybrid systems—establishes a new benchmark for what consumers can expect from modern vehicles. The company’s commitment to making advanced technology accessible while maintaining rigorous safety and performance standards suggests that BYD’s influence on the global automotive landscape will only continue to grow.