BYD Reveals Next-Gen Blade Battery That Charges EVs in 5 Minutes

BYD Unveils Second-Generation Blade Battery and Ultra-Fast FLASH Charger, Can Add 70% Charge in Just Five Minutes

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has introduced its second-generation Blade Battery along with a new ultra-fast FLASH charging system. The announcement was made in Shenzhen where the company showed how it plans to solve two of the biggest problems in electric vehicles which are slow charging and poor charging performance in very cold weather.

BYD says the new technology can charge an electric car from 10 percent to 70 percent in just five minutes. A nearly full charge of around 97 percent takes about nine minutes under normal temperature conditions. The company believes this breakthrough can make electric cars almost as practical as petrol or diesel vehicles for everyday use.

Battery Designed After Six Years of Research

The new Blade Battery is the result of six years of research and development by BYD engineers. The company focused on improving both charging speed and energy density at the same time which is usually difficult to achieve together.

Compared with the first-generation version, the new battery offers around 5 percent higher energy density. This improvement allows electric vehicles using this battery to deliver driving ranges above 1,000 kilometres on a single charge.

One example is the Denza Z9 GT which already uses the new battery technology. This model can travel about 1,036 kilometres on a full charge which places it among the longest-range electric cars currently available. The battery also improves long-term durability. BYD says it brings about a 2.5 percent improvement in capacity retention which means the battery can hold its performance better over time.

Advanced Cooling and Thermal Management

One of the biggest challenges with ultra-fast charging is heat generation inside the battery. To manage this problem, BYD developed new technologies that help control temperature and improve charging efficiency.

The battery includes what the company calls a Lithium-Ion High-Speed Channel which helps energy move more smoothly through the battery cells during high-power charging. Along with this, BYD added a Full-Spectrum Intelligent Thermal Management System which helps spread heat evenly and reduce internal heat build-up.

Because of these systems, the battery produces less heat and can handle high charging speeds safely. BYD says the battery has passed safety tests that go beyond China’s national safety standards.

The next generation Blade Battery and FLASH Charging Technology arrives.

Setting a new benchmark for safety, efficiency and performance in electric mobility.

10% to 70% in 5 minutes (room temperature)

10% to 97% in 9 minutes (room temperature)

10% to 97% in 12 minutes (−30°C… pic.twitter.com/p00Ac8NGHp

— BYD (@BYDCompany) March 5, 2026

Fast Charging Even in Extreme Cold

Charging speed often drops heavily in very cold weather, but BYD says its new system performs well even in harsh conditions. At a temperature as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, the battery can charge from 20 percent to 97 percent in around 12 minutes. This is only about three minutes slower than charging at room temperature which shows a major improvement compared with typical electric vehicles.

FLASH Charger Delivers Up to 1,500 kW Power

To unlock the full potential of the new battery, BYD also introduced its FLASH charger which is currently one of the most powerful EV chargers in the world.

Each charging gun can deliver up to 1.5 megawatts or 1,500 kW of power. With this level of power, an electric vehicle can reach 70 percent charge in five minutes and almost full charge in nine minutes.

The charger also uses a rail-mounted suspended T-type design. In this system the cable stays above the vehicle which means it never touches the ground. This design makes the connector feel lighter and easier to handle while also preventing the cable from getting tangled.

Another feature is plug-and-charge technology. This system automatically identifies the vehicle and processes billing without needing apps or cards which makes the charging process quicker and simpler for drivers.

Smart Charging Stations That Protect the Grid

BYD also designed its charging stations in a way that reduces pressure on local electricity grids. The flash charging stations include high-capacity energy storage batteries which store power in advance.

When vehicles arrive for charging, the station can supply energy from this stored power instead of pulling large amounts of electricity directly from the grid.

The company calls this setup a “station within a station” model. These flash stations can also recharge their storage systems using existing public charging infrastructure.

Large Charging Network Planned Across China

BYD plans to rapidly expand its charging network across China. The company aims to build 20,000 FLASH charging stations by the end of 2026.

Many of these stations will be placed in cities and along highways to make long distance EV travel easier. Around 2,000 stations will be located on highways which will cover nearly one-third of highway service areas. This means drivers could find a flash charging station roughly every 100 kilometres on major routes which makes inter-city travel more convenient.

BYD also plans to ensure the technology is widely available in cities. Flash charging stations will be located within about three kilometres in large Tier-I and Tier-II cities. In smaller cities the distance may extend to five or six kilometres. Half of the planned highway charging sites are expected to open by early May.

New Battery to Power Multiple BYD Models

BYD says the second-generation Blade Battery will soon appear in about ten vehicles across its product range. These include models from the Dynasty and Ocean series along with premium brands such as Yangwang. Another upcoming model called the Datang SUV is expected to deliver a driving range of up to 950 kilometres on a single charge. To encourage adoption, BYD also plans to offer one year of free flash charging services for vehicles that support the new system.

BYD Pushes for Faster EV Adoption

Speaking at the launch event, BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu highlighted the importance of electric vehicles for energy security. He said replacing fuel-powered vehicles with new energy vehicles is becoming increasingly important especially as global events can disrupt oil supplies.

With the new Blade Battery and ultra-fast charging network, BYD is aiming to remove one of the biggest concerns for EV buyers which is charging time.

If the technology performs as promised, electric cars could soon charge almost as quickly as refueling a traditional petrol vehicle which may speed up the global shift toward electric mobility.