BYD plans to continue manufacturing its first-generation blade battery alongside the newly launched second-generation ultra-fast charging unit, aiming to broaden consumer options and maintain pricing flexibility. This strategy was confirmed by Li Yunfei, general manager of branding and public relations at BYD, during a recent media briefing.
The second-generation blade battery and accompanying flash-charging technology were officially unveiled on March 5. This new system can charge from 10% to 97% in approximately nine minutes, setting a new industry benchmark for rapid charging. Despite the technological leap, BYD will maintain production of the original blade battery model to cater to varied customer preferences.
This dual-product approach also reflects recent increases in battery raw material costs. According to Li, the initial ten vehicle models featuring the new battery will undergo price adjustments in line with updated manufacturing expenses.
To support these batteries, BYD is accelerating the deployment of charging infrastructure. The company aims to construct 20,000 flash-charging stations by year-end. For urban public charging, BYD has implemented an asset-light model requiring only three parking spaces per installation and designed to avoid grid capacity expansion or excavation. “Installation is as simple as setting up an air conditioner,” Li said, highlighting the model’s potential to leverage idle urban resources and expedite the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric ones.
BYD has encountered six consecutive months of declining sales, including a notable drop in February, mirroring a broader slowdown in the electric vehicle sector’s performance in the first quarter. Nonetheless, Li expressed confidence that the company would accelerate its recovery in the second quarter as the new battery technologies roll out.
Source: CNEV Post
