BYD's 1MW chargers promise 400km of EV range in under five minutes

BYD is pushing ahead with ultra-fast charging technology, aiming to transform electric vehicle refuelling. The company launched its first 1MW charger in March 2025 and now plans to roll out hundreds of megawatt stations across Europe from early 2026. Globally, it expects to install 6,000 units next year, with expansion into Australia also under consideration.

The new chargers operate at over 1000 volts DC and can deliver up to 2100kW of input power. They support 10C charging, meaning drivers can add more than 400km of range in under five minutes. A key feature is the T-shaped charging gun, which uses liquid-cooled cables to handle high heat and current loads.

BYD's second-generation system, now being finalised, will support 1500kW top-ups. An intelligent power distribution feature allows up to 20 cars to charge simultaneously from a single 1.5MW unit. In China, the company expects to have over 15,000 of these flash chargers installed by the end of 2025.

Luxury brand Denza, part of BYD, will install 1MW chargers at its dealerships to support upcoming models like the Z9 GT. Meanwhile, BYD Australia is assessing how to introduce 1MW-plus charging at its dealer network. The exact number of Australian units by late 2025 remains undisclosed.

The expansion of BYD's megawatt charging network will begin in Europe in early 2026, with thousands more planned worldwide. The technology promises near-instant refuelling for electric vehicles, reducing downtime for drivers. Dealerships and public charging hubs will be the first to adopt the new systems.