BYD’s Second Generation Blade Battery Makes Western EV Tech Look Ancient
- BYD has revealed its second-generation Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
- They’re 5% more energy dense and significantly more efficient than the first-generation packs.
- They’re ready to go into roughly ten production models.
BYD made a big splash today by revealing its second-generation Blade battery with ultra-fast charging speeds. To support them, it’s also rolling out its new Flash charging stations, which can dispense more power than the megawatt chargers we saw last year.
The world’s largest EV maker saw its steepest sales plunge since the pandemic, with February sales falling 41% amid cut-throat competition in China’s EV market. BYD is now hoping for a comeback by democratizing its cutting-edge new technology.
The second-generation Blade battery can charge from 10-70% in just about five minutes and from 10-97% in under 10 minutes. More impressively, the company showcased the battery charging flawlessly from 20-97% at -22°F (-30°C) in just about 12 minutes, only around three minutes slower than it charges in normal temperatures.
BYD’s Blade 2.0 battery is ready to enter production on several models.
Photo by: BYD
That sort of efficiency is remarkable because traditional lithium-ion batteries charge painfully slowly in extreme cold. Frigid weather slows the transfer of electrons within the battery, which affects charging efficiency.
In a video BYD posted on China’s social media platform Weibo, the automaker showcased a Denza Z9GT, a luxury electric wagon, charging using the company’s new 1,500-kilowatt Flash charging station.
The EV was plugged in at 9% state of charge with 93 kilometers of range (57 miles). In 9 minutes and 51 seconds, it charged up to 97% with the range prediction in their gauge cluster displaying 1,008 kilometers (626 miles). This is likely calibrated for the China Light-Duty Test Cycle (CLTC), which tends to be more optimistic than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test cycle in the U.S.
Still, these charging speeds are way faster than the 20-40 minute charging stops on the latest EVs in the U.S. The new BYD EVs can basically recharge in nearly the same time it takes to refill a gas car. Even the new 1,500 kilowatt (1.5 megawatt) Flash charging stations are arranged like a traditional gas station for cars to quickly drive in and drive out.
BYD claims its Blade 2.0 battery can survive multiple nail-penetration tests and complies with China’s latest battery safety standards.
Photo by: BYD
China has also implemented the world’s most stringent standards for battery safety. They require automakers to ensure that batteries don’t catch fire or explode for at least two hours after a single cell enters thermal runaway. If it does go ablaze, Chinese automakers are experimenting with some unusual ways of protecting the car and occupants from the battery fire.
BYD said its new Blade battery complies with the new standards, showcasing multiple nail penetration tests on a single pack in a demo video—and the pack did not appear to catch fire.
The new battery is not some far-flung technology. BYD says it’s ready to go in as many as 10 production models, including the Yangwang U7, Denza Z9GT, Seal 07, Sealion 06, and more.
Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
