BYD Adds 5-Minute Charging to Its Bestselling EVs

Getting your electric car charged as fast as filling a gas tank just became reality for millions of drivers.

BYD, the world's largest electric vehicle maker, announced it's upgrading the Yuan Plus (sold as the Atto 3 internationally) with its new Flash Charging system. The technology can charge a battery from 10% to 70% in just five minutes.

The Yuan Plus was the 13th bestselling electric vehicle globally in 2024, with nearly 224,000 units sold. Now those drivers and future buyers will get access to charging speeds that were considered impossible just months ago.

Here's what makes this breakthrough remarkable: a full charge from 10% to 97% takes only nine minutes at BYD's new 1,500 kilowatt Flash Chargers. Even in freezing temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius, the system only needs 12 minutes to fully charge.

The upgraded Yuan Plus isn't just faster to charge. BYD made it bigger and more powerful too, with motor options reaching up to 322 horsepower and driving ranges up to 391 miles on a single charge.

BYD first introduced Flash Charging on its luxury Denza Z9 GT last month, which started selling in Europe for about $134,500. The company's executive vice president Stella Li called it "the perfect choice" to show the world what five-minute charging can do.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just good news for BYD owners. When the biggest EV maker in the world proves that gas-station-speed charging works, other manufacturers have to follow or fall behind.

The upgrade comes as BYD faces increased competition from newer, cheaper Chinese electric vehicles. Rather than race to the bottom on price, the company chose to compete on the feature drivers say matters most: convenience.

BYD already operates Flash Charging stations in China and recently began rolling them out across Europe. The new Yuan Plus models appeared in China's latest tax exemption directory, meaning they'll hit roads soon.

Every major car company is now racing to match this charging speed, which means faster, more convenient electric vehicles for everyone.