BYD is planning to introduce its fast-charging network across several markets in Europe, according to a report by local media outlet Belga News.
The information was revealed by executive VP Stella Li during a press event in Brussels.
The company’s Super e-Platform, which was unveiled in China earlier this year, allows achieving a charging power of 1 megawatt (1,000 kW) and a peak charging speed of 2 kilometers per second.
BYD claims it is “the fastest for mass-produced vehicles,” only needing “5 minutes of charging for 400 kilometers of range.”
“This will be a game changer that will boost consumer confidence in electric driving,” Li stated, adding that BYD is “going to build in Europe, to sell in Europe.”
The company is currently building an EV factory in Hungary, set to start production next year. BYD set its European headquarters in the country. “We are looking at the long term. We are here to stay,” the VP said.
The Shenzhen-based company’s May sales across the continent surged 345% year over year. According to data compiled by EV, the carmaker sold approximately 9,381 vehicles across its twelve major markets in Europe.
BYD continues to expand in the old continent, having recently announced its arrival in Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia. Earlier this year, the brand had also arrived to Serbia and Estonia.
BYD’s cheapest model in Europe, the recently launched Dolphin Surf, has a range between 220 to 507 km on a full charge, depending on the trim. The model can charge from 30% to 80% in 22 minutes, according to the brand’s website.
In China, the brand already features models that can charge up to 400 km of range within five minutes — as revealed by the brand in late March, when it launched the Super-e platform.
The platform was included in the Han L and Tang L, which were launched in China in early April.
The entry-level variants are priced from 219,800 yuan ($30,600) and 239,800 yuan ($33,400), respectively. Both models are available in fully electric and hybrid variants.
Last week, BYD registered 54,900 vehicles in its domestic market, according to data released on Chinese social media this Tuesday.
In the last week of May, BYD sparked a price war in China as it cut prices across 22 of its models. The cheapest model in its lineup starts at 55,800 yuan, equivalent to $7,800.
