Woman visits BYD's Flash EV charging station and personally times how long it takes to charge a car to see if the 5-minute claim is true
Published on Jun 16, 2026 at 2:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 16, 2026 at 2:17 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This woman wanted to verify the claims about BYD’s Flash EV charging station for herself, so she decided to personally time it.
There’s been a lot of buzz online about this charging technology.
With charging times being touted as fast as five minutes, it’s no wonder it’s created such a commotion.
But would it prove to be worth the hype once this YouTuber tried it out for herself?
BYD’s Flash EV charging station certainly sounded good on paper
Ellis Barrett, a host on YouTube channel Electroheads, was going to review BYD’s Flash EV charging station.
The claims attached to this technology were certainly bold.
In room temperature, it could take an EV from 10 percent to 70 percent in just five minutes.
Getting to 97 percent from 10 percent would take around nine minutes.
Even in extremely cold temperatures, it would just be 12 minutes to get from 20 percent to 97 percent.
But would things pan out that way in real life?
That’s what Barrett wanted to find out.
Did this technology live up to the hype?
“The evolution of the electric car has come a long way, even compared to 10 years ago,” Barrett said.
“But despite all of that progress, one issue continues to dominate the conversation – charging.”
Namely, the charging times have been cited as an issue.
That’s what BYD’s Flash EV charging stations are designed to rectify.
But would it deliver the impressive figures that had been promised on paper?
At BYD’s UK headquarters with a Denza Z9GT, Barrett found that she could add 100 miles of range in under two minutes.
50 percent battery capacity could be reached in less than three minutes.
Getting to 97 percent total charge only took nine minutes and 30 seconds.
Those are some awe-inspiring figures.
BYD’s Flash EV charging stations are being rolled out en-masse
These EV chargers are being rolled out across Europe, in a move set to further cement the Chinese automaker’s position on the continent.
There are plans for 3,000 stations over the next year as part of a wider 6,000-site global push.
But these aren’t just limited to BYD cars – any EV can use them to charge up.
History of BYD charging
1995: Company was founded in Shenzhen, starting off as a manufacturer of rechargeable batteries.
2003 – 2008: BYD acquired Qinchuan Automobile and moves over into EVs.
2020: The first-generation Blade Battery is introduced.
March 2025: The Flash Charging infrastructure is formally announced.
June 2026: Global rollout of Flash charging.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
