BYD rolls out new Blade battery in push to revive EV sales

This week BYD unveiled its first major battery upgrade in six years. The move comes as the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer seeks to regain momentum in the highly competitive domestic market after a sharp decline in vehicle sales.

The second-generation Blade Battery can be charged from 20 per cent to 97 per cent in less than 12 minutes, even at temperatures of minus 20C. At the same time it provides a range of 777km, BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu said in Shenzhen.

BYD also aims to expand its network of fast-charging stations to 20,000 by the end of 2026, of which 2,000 will be located on motorways. As of March 5, the company had built more than 4,000 stations.

During a three-hour live broadcast, BYD launched more than ten models equipped with the new Blade batteries across all brands, with prices ranging from €19,500 for the Song Ultra EV to $139,500 for the flagship Yangwang U8L.

BYD was founded in China in 1995 and originally manufactured batteries for mobile phones. The name BYD did not initially mean anything specific. It was derived from the Chinese name Biyadi and was chosen mainly because it was easy to register as a trademark. Only later did the company begin using the English phrase ‘Build Your Dreams’ as its slogan and official explanation of the name.

(reuters, im)