BYD says it will bring its fast-charging network capabilities currently in operation in China to European cities to boost its expansion into the Continent’s markets.
It plans to bring its ‘flash charger’ public charging network for battery-electric vehicles to Europe, executive vice president Stella Li tells journalists during a press event in Brussels, Belgium’s Belga News reports.
The automaker already markets vehicles boasting battery packs that can recharge to provide a claimed 248 miles (400 km) of driving range from a five-minute recharge.
These fast chargers use a 1,000-volt architecture claiming to allow recharge times comparable to refueling a gasoline-powered car, albeit with arguably less overall range. Its system also claims 20% to 30% faster charging than previous-generation battery technology.
“This will be a game changer that will boost consumer confidence in electric driving,” Li says. She adds that the automaker expects to begin building the new network within the year, installing flash-chargers at its dealerships, and is also in talks with other potential partners.
BYD currently has dealerships in several European nations and, according to Li, its sales are up 10% every month this year. “We are going to build in Europe to sell in Europe. We are looking at the long term. We are here to stay,” Li says.
At the end of this year, the company will open a production site in Hungary. It will also establish a new research and development center and its headquarters in Budapest.
