BYD to Launch 500 Ultra-Fast EV Charging Stations in April, Doubling Tesla’s Speed

Chinese EV giant BYD (HK:1211) is set to roll out its groundbreaking megawatt fast charging technology by early April, aiming to outpace rivals like Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) in the competitive Chinese electric vehicle market. According to a Weibo (NASDAQ:WB) post cited by Chinese media, BYD plans to launch the first 500 of 4,000 planned fast-charging stations next month.

The company’s new “super e-platform” can deliver peak charging speeds of up to 1,000 kilowatts—twice as fast as Tesla’s 500 kW superchargers. This allows compatible electric vehicles to gain a range of 400 km (249 miles) in just five minutes, a game-changing feature for drivers concerned about long charging times during emergencies.

While BYD has historically focused on plug-in hybrid vehicles, it has rapidly expanded its pure EV lineup in recent years to compete with Tesla and rising Chinese players like Nio (NYSE:NIO), Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI), and Xpeng (NYSE:XPEV), all of whom are also investing heavily in charging infrastructure. However, BYD’s announcement marks the first time the automaker is building its own charging network in China.

The exact locations of the new charging stations remain undisclosed. BYD also recently unveiled its “god’s eye” autonomous driving system, which will be featured across most of its vehicle models, further cementing its push into smart EV technology.

With innovations in both fast charging and self-driving tech, BYD is reinforcing its position as a leader in the EV space, signaling an aggressive push to dominate China’s resilient and fast-growing electric vehicle market.