BYD Faces Demand Overload for New EVs

Why this is here: BYD’s new Flash Charging system can recharge a vehicle from 10% to 97% in as little as nine minutes—about 30% to 50% faster than current EVs.

BYD reports it struggles to meet orders for its new electric vehicles in China. The automaker received over 100,000 preorders for its Great Tang SUV and 61,000 for the Song Ultra EV. These vehicles feature BYD’s new Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging system, which allows a recharge from 10% to 70% in roughly five minutes.

BYD’s CEO, Wang Chuanfu, confirmed production cannot currently keep pace with demand. The company has deployed 5,979 flash charging stations in 312 Chinese cities as of May 15. BYD offers 18 months of free charging to those who preorder several of its new models.

Local dealers report the Great Tang’s official launch has been delayed to June 8 due to high preorder numbers. Though BYD controls much of its supply chain and component production, scaling up to meet this unexpected demand presents challenges. The company plans to expand this technology to Europe and other overseas markets later this year.