In the field of EV charging technology, BYD has made a significant step forward with its Super-E Platform which it claims can charge vehicles in five to eight minutes. This innovation that is currently being deployed in China and which is the world’s first 4,000 fast charging stations network.
The Super-E Platform is based on the Blade Battery technology which is built with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry that is known to be durable and safe. With a 10C charging multiplier it keeps the 600 kW charging power even at 90% state of charge. The system is currently compatible with the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV both vehicles that are fitted with high performance motors and have the record breaking acceleration speeds.
Fast charging is however seen as a breakthrough, there are still concerns. A major issue is however battery longevity; it is well known that subjecting the batteries to constant rapid charging reduces their lifespan. However, LFP batteries have been found to be more tolerant to heat and stress than the conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Infrastructure is another issue. Putting in place megawatt chargers across the world would need strong power grids that may not be possible in every country. For instance in India where power supply is mainly from coal, the environmental impact of such high power charging stations is a concern.
Furthermore, home charging solutions are still unexplained. The lack of charging accessibility is still a problem for urban EV owners, and thus, fast public charging is only a partial solution to the EV adoption barriers. Gigawatt chargers, however, can be useful on highway charging networks, but the cost may prevent their widespread adoption.
