BYD's flash-charging network crosses 10,000 stations, with a third of users driving other brands

Less than six months after unveiling its latest flash-charging technology on March 5, BYD says the network built around it has grown to 10,000 stations covering 325 mainland Chinese cities. The milestone was marked on August 28 at the opening of a flagship site in Shenzhen's Longhua district, where the company also disclosed that its stations have collectively dispensed 210 million kWh. Executive Vice President He Zhiqi noted the rollout has averaged 55 new stations per day since the technology debuted.

The network stretches from Hulunbuir in the north to Sanya in the south, and from Shuangyashan in the east to Kashgar in the west, with additional sites in Turpan and near the base of Mount Everest. Partners include Sinopec, PetroChina, CNOOC, TELD, JD.com, Alipay, Amap and Ucar, though BYD has not broken down how many stations each contributes. More than 1.83 million users have signed up, roughly one-third of them driving vehicles from other marques. Those cars may not charge as quickly as compatible BYD models, however: a Lynk & Co 10 previously peaked at 430 kW on the network, illustrating that station output and a vehicle's charging capability are separate parameters.

Reaching the halfway mark of a 20,000-station domestic target — 18,000 urban and 2,000 highway sites — leaves BYD needing about 80 stations per day over the remaining 125 days to finish by December 31. Overseas, the company plans 6,000 flash-charging stations, half of them in Europe using the CCS2 standard rather than China's GB/T. Its Denza brand, meanwhile, aims to enter more than 30 European countries with over 150 retail outlets by year-end. Separately, Hongqi is lined up to become the first outside brand to adopt BYD's second-generation Blade Battery and flash-charging technology, which FAW-FinDreams has nominated for the marque's next-generation battery-electric platform, though no models or timing have been confirmed.