After revealing 1000kW Flash Charging in March 2025, BYD is now bringing the tech beyond China’s borders.
BYD’s strategic infrastructure rollout, confirmed by European head Stella Li, is set to begin in South Africa and Europe in April or May 2026. The deployment centers around the company’s new 1000 volt platform, which brings ultra-fast charging capabilities to models like the Han L EV and Tang L EV.
This groundbreaking technology delivers performance that aims to alleviate range anxiety entirely: vehicles can recharge enough power for 400km in just 5 minutes. During internal testing, the battery demonstrated impressive endurance, maintaining high charging power levels and reaching 600kW at 90% charge. This robust performance is facilitated by the 1000 volt Super e-Platform, which is built around the latest evolution of BYD’s Blade battery with Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) chemistry.
The platform is not solely focused on charging speed; it also enables blistering performance. The system, which can generate a staggering 1100hp total output when combined with the 788hp rear electric motor, allows the BYD Han L to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds.
Ambitious South Africa Network
In South Africa, BYD plans to leverage its rapidly expanding dealer network—expected to almost triple by the end of 2027—to install the first flash charging stations starting in April or May 2026. The goal is exceptionally ambitious: to eventually cover 100% of the country.
The high power demands of the 1000kW chargers will be met using a combination of mains electricity and solar energy. This dual approach is crucial as the solar option will allow BYD to build infrastructure outside major urban centers and along strategic motorways, expanding EV charging accessibility to smaller towns and communities. BYD previously signed an agreement with South African electricity supplier Eskom in September to support this initiative.
Global Expansion and Manufacturing Focus
The investment in South Africa mirrors a broader global push. In Europe, BYD plans to establish an initial network of several hundred charging stations in the course of 2026, with 200 to 300 stations planned by the end of the second quarter. Notably, the European solution will simplify the charging experience by requiring only one cable for the 1,000 kW power, unlike the two cables needed in China. In its home market, BYD has already entered partnerships for further expansion, involving more than 15,000 megawatt charging stations.
Despite the heavy infrastructure investment in South Africa, BYD has no current plans to build its own vehicle or battery factory there. The company’s policy is to only invest in manufacturing plants where it has already secured a large market share.
