BYD's new 1,500kW charger more than quadruples the average EV charger's capabilities and could make charging as quick as filling up gas
Published on Mar 06, 2026 at 11:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 06, 2026 at 7:41 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Continuing the seemingly unstoppable march of Chinese EV brands, BYD’s new 1,500kW charger could make recharging an electric car – be it a BYD or something else – as fast as filling up your gas tank.
Recharging times for electric cars have been a hot topic of discussion for a few years now, and they have come a long way in that regard.
But, most EVs still take around 20 minutes to go from 20 to 80 percent battery, compared to perhaps five minutes for a regular car.
But BYD may have the solution, with a new charger being tested in China that could dramatically cut recharge times.
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This is what we know about BYD’s new 1,500kw charger
Not content with outselling Tesla in 2025, BYD has been working on new charging stations in its home country.
These have recently been tested in Shenzhen, China.
Capable of delivering up to 1,500kW, that is around three times more than the peak output of a Tesla V4 supercharger.
But the 500kW capability is currently limited to just the Tesla Cybertruck.
The charging stations are apparently liquid-cooled and mounted on T-shaped gantries.
They are laid out similarly to a traditional gas station, with a charging cable coming from above.
This traditional layout is better suited to the expected rapid recharging times.
The system operates on a 1,000-volt architecture and will fast charge models with the ‘Flash Charge’ symbol.
For those worried about safety, the charger will cut off when a car reaches 97 percent full.
Why Tesla should be worried about this rapid charging
If Tesla weren’t already worried about BYD and other Chinese EVs, they should be now.
Most of Tesla’s models can’t handle that level of charging power safely.
Currently, only the Cybertruck can charge faster than the standard.
BYD, meanwhile, is developing most of its models with fast charging in mind.
Another potential worry for Tesla could be the battery swap stations that may also crop up in China.
These can replace a dead battery with a fully charged one in minutes.
Ford CEO Jim Farley recently stripped down both a Tesla and a Chinese EV.
He wasn’t just humbled by the Tesla, but also the Chinese car as well.
American manufacturers know that China is providing them with some fierce competition.
BYD’s new 1,500kw charger is just the tip of the iceberg.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
