To support the lightning-fast 1,500 kW charging (yes – 1,500 kW), BYD is planning to build 20,000 “FLASH” stations by the end of 2026. They’re spending over $690 million on this, with each individual charging pile costing $82,850. BYD is colonizing about a third of China’s highways with these chargers. It’s an aggressive, wallet-emptying strategy designed to stabilize the home turf and hit a massive export target of 1.3 million units this year.
It’s all very impressive, but it’s also a bit depressing. When we’re over here arguing about whether a 50 kW charger is “rapid” or not, BYD is building an ecosystem that could charge a luxury sedan in the time it takes to eat a sandwich. Their high-end brands like Denza and Yangwang are getting a 12-model offensive to show off this gear. Meanwhile, our tech feels like it’s being held together with hope and sticky tape.
