Chinese automaker BYD has captured attention with its latest announcement: the Han L sedan can reportedly add up to 248 miles of range in just five minutes. While the company hasn’t shared full technical details, a closer look at the vehicle’s design and existing information sheds light on how this breakthrough might work—and its potential limitations.
Battery Innovation: The Heart of Rapid Charging
The Han L’s 83.2 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery operates at 945 volts, a key factor in its charging speed. LFP batteries are known for their stability and ability to handle faster charging compared to alternatives like nickel manganese cobalt (NMC). BYD’s Blade 2.0 battery architecture, expected in the Han L, builds on years of LFP expertise, optimizing both energy density and thermal management.
High-Voltage Electrical System
The sedan’s 945-volt electrical system minimizes heat generation, enabling efficient power delivery. This places BYD ahead of most competitors—Lucid’s 900-volt and Hyundai/Kia’s 800-volt systems are currently among the fastest. To handle the extreme power demands of 1-megawatt charging, BYD uses a dual-port design, allowing two 500 kW chargers to work simultaneously. This approach mitigates the need for excessively thick, liquid-cooled cables seen in existing high-speed chargers.
Real-World Range Expectations
While BYD claims 248 miles of range in five minutes, this figure relies on China’s CLTC testing cycle, which is roughly 35% more optimistic than the EPA standard. Real-world estimates suggest closer to 160 miles of usable range after a five-minute charge. Charging from 16% to 80% takes 10 minutes, and a full charge (16% to 100%) requires 24 minutes—still remarkably fast compared to current EV standards.
Infrastructure Challenges and Market Barriers
BYD plans to deploy over 4,000 high-speed chargers across China, but each station will demand significant grid upgrades to support 1-megawatt loads. For U.S. buyers, the Han L remains out of reach due to steep tariffs on Chinese EVs. However, domestic automakers are already closing the gap, with some vehicles achieving 20-80% charges in 18 minutes. As battery tech evolves, ultra-fast charging could soon become mainstream worldwide.
