BYD’s Nine-Minute Miracle: Flash Charging and a 1,000 HP Cabrio Steal the Beijing Spotlight

BYD showcases second-gen Blade Battery with 5-minute 10-70% charge, a 1,000-horsepower cabriolet, and a new SUV with 30,000 pre-orders in 24 hours, signaling a push into premium EVs.

BYD has turned the Beijing Auto Show into a stage for extremes. On one side, the company is rolling out a second-generation Blade Battery that can go from nearly empty to almost full in the time it takes to brew coffee. On the other, it is flexing its muscles with a 1,000-horsepower electric cabriolet and a new SUV that racked up 30,000 pre-orders in its first day. The message is clear: the Chinese EV giant is no longer just chasing volume — it wants to own the premium conversation.

The headline act is the Flash Charging system, built around a 1,500-kilowatt architecture. BYD claims the new battery can charge from 10% to 70% in just five minutes at dedicated stations, and hit 97% in roughly nine minutes. Even in extreme cold — down to minus 30 degrees Celsius — the charging speed is said to hold up. The technology debuts in the Sea Lion 08, a flagship SUV priced around 300,000 yuan, and will also find its way into the next-generation Yuan Plus.

Infrastructure is keeping pace. BYD already has over 5,000 Flash Charging stations live across 292 Chinese cities, with a target of 20,000 nationwide by the end of 2026. An additional 6,000 stations are planned for overseas markets next year, with international rollout kicking off in the fourth quarter of 2026. Israel is expected to be one of the first European entry points.

On the vehicle side, the Denza Z made its world premiere as a fully electric cabriolet. With over 1,000 PS on tap, the four-seater accelerates to highway speed in under two seconds. Not to be outdone, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme — a near-production supercar — boasts a top speed of nearly 500 km/h. But the real crowd-pleaser was the Datang, a 5.26-metre, three-row SUV that anchors the Dynasty line in the premium segment. It comes with the second-generation Blade Battery in configurations up to 130.1 kWh, offering a CLTC range of up to 950 kilometres. Within 24 hours of its official launch, BYD logged 30,000 pre-orders for the model.

The Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand also stepped into the limelight with the Formula SL, a high-performance saloon featuring a tri-motor all-wheel-drive system delivering 1,000 PS and an 800-volt architecture. A magnetically adaptive suspension called DiSus-M is designed to take on rivals like the Tesla Model S Plaid. For Fang Cheng Bao — previously known for rugged off-roaders — this marks a bold pivot into luxury territory.

Investors have taken note. BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares jumped nearly 5% on Monday to close at HKD 106, buoyed by the product blitz and the company’s aggressive export target of 1.5 million vehicles for the full year. In the first quarter alone, 320,000 units were shipped abroad, with Europe absorbing a growing share.

The next catalyst is just around the corner. BYD has scheduled a board meeting in Shenzhen for Tuesday, April 28, to review and approve its unaudited first-quarter financial results. Those numbers will reveal how deeply China’s brutal price war has cut into margins — and whether the flashy new technology can translate into fatter profits.