As the new energy vehicle market exceeds 60 percent penetration, battery performance has become a key competitive factor. In an interview with 36kr Auto, Sun Huajun, chief technology officer of BYD’s battery division, defended the company’s second-generation Blade Battery and its “Flash Charge” system.
Equipped with a 1500 kW charging station, the updated Blade Battery can charge from 10 percent to 97 percent in nine minutes at room temperature. Even at –30 °C, charging from 20 percent to 97 percent takes only three minutes longer. To support nationwide rapid charging, BYD’s “Flash Charge China” initiative aims to deploy 20,000 fast-charging stations by year-end; 5,924 stations were completed as of May 6.
Some industry observers have expressed concerns that ultra-fast charging will generate excessive heat—potentially exceeding 65 °C to 70 °C and damaging the battery’s solid electrolyte interphase, thereby reducing life and safety. Sun dismissed these objections as “outdated experience,” noting that earlier increases from 1C to 5C charging rates were similarly questioned. He pointed to the Blade Battery’s symmetrical cell structure, dual-surface cooling design and optimized dimensions, which reduce internal resistance and promote uniform temperature distribution. BYD says more than 1,000 full-power charge cycles and extreme long-distance trip simulations—such as a drive from Hainan to Harbin—were conducted to verify reliability before mass production.
Sun also responded to critiques that using lithium iron phosphate batteries in vehicles priced above 250,000 yuan (about $36,800) represents a downgrade. He highlighted the Yangwang U9 supercar—priced at over 10 million yuan (around $1.47 million)—which leverages LFP technology for high acceleration and handling performance. “Safety is the ultimate luxury,” he said, adding that true “high-end” status should be defined by customer experience and engineering, not solely by energy density.
Looking ahead, BYD continues to explore sodium-ion, solid-state and lithium-free anode technologies to advance its electrochemistry. Sun believes that mastering sub-ten-minute full charges will raise industry-entry barriers, requiring deep research and integrated engineering.
Source: CarNewsChina
