by BYD prepares the ground for its Flash Charging network in Canada
BYD, which has not yet sold a single car in Canada, is already actively laying the foundation for its hyper-fast Flash Charging network north of the US border. This sequence of actions shows how determined the Chinese giant is to establish itself in the Canadian electric vehicle market.
Game-changing technology
The 1500 kW Flash Charging technology was introduced earlier this year. Vehicles equipped with the second-generation Blade Battery and a 1000-volt architecture can gain 250 miles (400 km) of range in just 5 minutes. This brings the full charging time closer to the familiar process of refueling at a gas station.
This week, the company published a job posting in Toronto for a Flash Charging Business Development Manager, who will oversee the network’s deployment.
According to Electrek, the manager will be responsible for creating cost and profitability models for Flash Charging technology at the local level, as well as finding local partners for the grid upgrades needed to deploy the network. They will also coordinate the operation of stations with these partners.
Global expansion
BYD has deployed its Flash Charging stations in China extremely quickly. Currently, over 6,400 stations are in operation across 319 cities in the country. The company also plans to install approximately 3,000 such stations in Europe by the end of next year. The estimated cost of each station is 580,000 euros ($670,000), implying total investments of about $2 billion. The Flash Charging network will also appear in Australia and New Zealand, and in the future — in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Impact on the future of electric vehicles
Such charging speeds mean that replenishing an electric car’s battery could become as fast as refueling a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. Moreover, this could allow manufacturers to create electric cars with smaller battery packs. After all, if a battery can be charged in just a few minutes, there is no need for a huge and heavy battery providing over 400 miles of range.
This approach by BYD could significantly change the electric vehicle market, making them more practical and affordable. Reducing the size of batteries will lower the cost of cars, and fast charging will solve one of the main problems for EV owners — long waiting times. Entering the Canadian market with ready infrastructure before starting car sales is a bold move that could give BYD a significant advantage over competitors, including Tesla, which already has its own Supercharger network in the country. If Flash Charging lives up to expectations, it could be a real breakthrough accelerating the mass adoption of electric vehicles worldwide.
