400 kilometers in 5 minutes: EV charging is becoming as fast as gasoline refueling

Chinese brands BYD and Huawei have launched “megawatt charging” stations for mass use, reducing charging times to little more than a short coffee break.

This breakthrough is made possible by BYD’s new Super e-Platform. It operates on an ultra-high 1,000-volt architecture, allowing energy to be delivered to the battery at unprecedented speed. Until recently, fast charging meant waiting 30–40 minutes, but now production models such as the updated BYD Han L and Tang L can gain up to 400 kilometers of range in just 5 minutes. In practical terms, this means refueling an EV can now take roughly the same time as filling up a conventional gasoline car.

To prevent cables and batteries from overheating, a constant liquid-cooling system is used. This enables the system to handle currents of up to 1,000 amperes while keeping the equipment safe. The new battery cells also feature ultra-low internal resistance, preventing excessive heat buildup during ultra-fast charging.

Huawei has begun installing these megawatt-class charging hubs along major highways. The output of a single hub reaches 1 megawatt, enough to fast-charge dozens of vehicles simultaneously.