Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD will continue producing its first-generation Blade battery even after launching its new ultra-fast charging version, as the company adopts a dual-product strategy to offer more choices to customers.
Li Yunfei, general manager of BYD’s branding and public relations division, said the company plans to maintain production of the original battery alongside the newly introduced second-generation Blade battery, according to a report by Sina Tech.
BYD officially unveiled its second-generation Blade battery and flash-charging technology on March 5. The new system is designed to significantly reduce charging times, enabling a battery to charge from 10% to 97% in about nine minutes.
Despite the breakthrough in charging speed, Li said the earlier battery technology will remain part of BYD’s product lineup.
“We want to give customers more choices,” Li said.
The decision may also reflect cost considerations. Li noted that prices for key battery raw materials have increased in recent months, which could affect manufacturing costs.
As a result, the first batch of 10 vehicle models equipped with the new-generation battery technology will see price adjustments based on updated production costs.
To support the rollout of its flash-charging technology, BYD plans to expand charging infrastructure, aiming to build 20,000 flash-charging stations by the end of this year.
For urban deployments, the company has introduced an asset-light installation model that requires only three parking spaces and avoids the need for grid capacity upgrades or foundation excavation.
Li said the installation process is relatively simple. “The installation is as simple as setting up an air conditioner,” he said, adding that the approach is designed to make use of existing urban spaces and accelerate the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles.
BYD is currently facing market headwinds, including six consecutive months of declining sales, with February seeing a particularly sharp drop amid weaker industry demand during the first two months of the year.
However, Li said the company expects performance to improve later in the year as the new battery technology and charging network begin to scale.