70% in 5 mins: BYD’s new EV battery rivals petrol refueling speeds

Chinese EV leader BYD has unveiled its Blade Battery 2.0, a next-generation electric vehicle battery capable of charging from 10% to 70% in just five minutes and reaching 97% in about nine minutes—charging speeds comparable to refueling a gasoline car. The battery supports a driving range of over 621 miles under CLTC conditions and maintains strong charging performance even in extreme cold (down to -22°F). BYD aims to address “charging anxiety” by replicating the convenience and speed of gas refueling, potentially accelerating wider EV adoption. To complement the battery, BYD plans to deploy around 20,000 high-power “flash charging” stations across China by year-end, with peak outputs of about 1,500 kW—significantly exceeding Tesla’s current 500 kW superchargers in China. The Blade Battery 2.0 will debut in premium models such as the Yangwang U7 and the updated Denza Z9 GT, the