BYD is pushing into Europe with an ambitious plan to make charging electric cars a whole lot faster. The company is rolling out what it calls “Flash Charging,” a system designed to deliver up to 1,000 kW of power using just a single cable. According to electrive, the move could completely change how European drivers think about charging their EVs.
In China, BYD has already been experimenting with ultra-fast charging by pairing two cables together. That setup works, but it’s bulky and not exactly user-friendly. For Europe, the company says one cable will be enough to deliver megawatt-level power, relying on the CCS standard. If it works, it could slash charging times to just minutes, putting EV refueling on par with gas stations.
To pull this off, BYD has to tackle some serious technical challenges. A single cable capable of handling that much power will need advanced cooling systems and heavy-duty safety mechanisms. Most existing CCS hardware wasn’t built for anything close to 1,000 kW, so new equipment will be required at both charging stations and inside vehicles. Some automakers have already hinted at adopting 800-volt and even 1,200-volt architectures, which could make this level of charging realistic in the near future.
But even if the hardware works, the grid itself might be the bigger obstacle. Supplying that kind of power on demand requires robust infrastructure, and not all parts of Europe are ready for it. Upgrades to local energy systems will likely be necessary before BYD’s vision becomes widespread.
Still, the company seems serious. Reports suggest that BYD could launch between 200 and 300 Flash Charging stations across Europe as soon as 2026. If that timeline holds, the rollout could line up with the company’s expanding vehicle lineup, which already includes models like the Han and Seal designed with fast charging in mind. Other automakers will be watching closely, since no one wants to be left behind if charging times drop to just five or ten minutes.
For drivers, the promise is simple: less time waiting and more time driving. If BYD delivers on Flash Charging, it could set a new benchmark for the entire EV industry—and maybe finally put an end to range anxiety once and for all.
