Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 6 March 2026
BYD has unveiled its second-generation Blade battery along with new ultra-fast flash charging technology.
This Blade 2.0 battery is capable of charging from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in just five minutes, and from 10 per cent to 97 per cent in nine minutes.
What’s more, the battery is able to maintain impressive speeds in sub-zero temperatures, charging from 20 per cent to 97 per cent in just 12 minutes.
These speeds are achieved using BYD’s own charging technology, but the brand states speeds can be improved in regular chargers by between 30 and 50 per cent.
On top of charging speeds, this new battery has five per cent higher energy density, and has a longer lifespan.
BYD used a Denza Z9GT to demonstrate its abilities, where it was able to achieve 1036km of range off a single charge.
The Chinese brand also plans to roll out a new generation of flash chargers, which are more compact and provide easier access.
Each charging gun is capable of delivering up to 1500kW, through its 1000-volt architecture, meaning speeds should dip too much in cold climates.
BYD also announced plans to establish a network of these new flash charging stations.
The brand hopes it can install 20,000 flash chargers in China this year, with almost 5,000 already completed.
