China’s BYD announced plans to build a network of ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations across Europe, as the automaker accelerates efforts to expand its footprint on the continent. The chargers, dubbed “flash chargers,” will support BYD’s latest EVs capable of gaining up to 400 kilometers of range in just five minutes.
Executive Vice President Stella Li revealed the initiative during a press event in Brussels on Tuesday, saying the chargers operate on a 1,000-volt architecture—enabling recharge times that approach the speed of refueling conventional petrol cars. “This will be a game changer that will boost consumer confidence in electric driving,” Li said. She added that the company plans to deploy the network within the next 12 months.
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BYD will begin by installing chargers at its dealerships and is in discussions with local partners to expand the network further. The technology also benefits older EV models by reducing charging time by up to 30%, according to the company.
The move comes as BYD positions itself to become a leading electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle manufacturer in Europe by 2030. The company is on track to open a production facility in Hungary by the end of this year, alongside a new research and development center and its European headquarters in Budapest.
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Li said BYD’s European sales are growing by 10% month over month, and the company is prepared to expand its manufacturing capacity on the continent. “We are going to build in Europe to sell in Europe. We are looking at the long term. We are here to stay,” she said.
In Belgium, BYD currently operates 16 dealerships, including directly managed locations in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. It aims to increase that number to at least 20 by the end of 2025.
Source: belganewsagency.eu