BYD has sold over 1.2 million electric vehicles worldwide this year, solidifying its position as the second-largest EV manufacturer globally, just behind Tesla.
The Chinese automaker, headquartered in Shenzhen, is renowned for its in-house developed Blade battery technology, which features thin blade-like cells designed to improve overall safety, especially in accidents.
The new second-generation Blade battery is set to begin production soon, with the Yangwang U7, a luxury sedan targeting the Tesla Model S, being the first model to utilize it.
This new battery will support ultra-fast charging at 5.5C, allowing a 50 kWh battery to recharge from 10% to 80% in approximately 11 minutes, addressing current charging speed limitations.
Additionally, the second-generation Blade battery boasts a discharge capacity of 14C and an energy density of around 190 Wh/kg, a 27% increase over the current version, potentially enabling an EV range of up to 1,000 kilometers according to Chinese standards.
The improved energy density may lead to reduced vehicle costs, as the battery accounts for about 40% of an electric vehicle's total price. Other brands utilizing BYD's battery technology may also benefit from these advancements.