- The Yangwang U7 will be first model to use new Blade Battery tech
- Company says Blade 2.0 can deliver more than 625 miles on a single charge
- BYD is working on high-performance EVs that also boast massive range
Not content with being a global leader in EV sales, Chinese car-making giant BYD is set to reveal all about the next generation of its battery and charging systems at a “Disruptive Technology” even due to be held in China this week.
Tidbits are already being released by the company on social media, including the fact that the Yangwang U7 will be the first high-performance EV from the BYD stable to receive the second generation of its advanced Blade Battery technology.
The company says the quad-motor, high-powered EV will be capable of returning a maximum range of 1,006 km (625 miles) on a single charge, according China’s CTLC testing standard (via Car News China).
When adjusted for the more stringent WLTP cycle in Europe and North America’s EPA rating, those numbers still hover around 559 miles and 450 miles respectively — easily making it the longest range EV on sale.
In addition to the Yangwang U7, BYD plans to introduce the Blade Battery 2.0 into a number of Denza models, as well as the BYD Seal 07, the Sealion 06 and a recently-announced Great Tang seven-seat SUV (see image below), which has the likes of Kia, Hyundai and Volvo clearly in its sights.
Even in that enormous luxury crossover, the Chinese automaker claims its upcoming battery technology will be capable of delivering 590 miles on the CTLC testing standard, which is over 200 miles more than the Kia EV9, for example.
Not content with simply producing extremely energy-dense EV batteries, BYD has also been working on its megawatt ‘Flash Charging’ network, which is capable of delivering up to 1,500kW of electricity to compatible EV batteries.
It released a number of 10-70% charging times for models due to receive its Blade Battery 2.0 technology, with the Yangwang U7 reportedly taking just four minutes and 54 seconds to reach the aforementioned State of Charge.
Finding a charging outlet in Europe and the US that provides just 350kW is tough enough, but BYD says it will roll out 20,000 of its innovative gas station-style Flash Charging stalls in China this year.
Analysis: It’s all in the chemistry
The most pertinent point here is not the fact that BYD, alongside Chinese battery-making giant CATL, have managed to improve the energy density, charging rates and longevity of their EV battery packs. It’s that they’ve done so using a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery chemistry.
Where rivals have been exploring more costly Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) cathodes or awaiting the arrival of mass produced all-solid-state batteries, BYD has been gradually improving its relatively cheap LFP technology to match the statistics of more costly alternatives.
Judging from the progress, there is likely even more room for improvement here, which could open the door to Blade Battery 2.0 technology eventually filtering down into the more affordable, mass market BYD models, both in China and further afield.
Right now, the BYD Seal can manage up to 345 miles on a single charge in the UK, according to WLTP tests. But the second generation battery could see those figures rise to over 400 miles, if not more.
On top of this, future owners will also be able to make use of ultra-rapid charging, which brings EV charging sessions more in line with fuel stops.
If the infrastructure can be put in place, we will start to see customer attitudes towards electrification shift dramatically.
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