BYD has officially detailed technical specifications, pricing structures and infrastructure plans for its landmark Flash Charging network ahead of its imminent launch in the UK.

Unveiled earlier this year and officially debuted at the brand’s UK headquarters in June, the world’s fastest mass-produced electric vehicle chargers are set to transform EV charging by offering a public charging system that matches the speed of traditional petrol or diesel refuelling.

The lightning-fast technology is capable of topping up a compatible BYD Auto electric car with over 200 miles of charge in just five minutes. It’s designed to overcome the psychological barrier of charging times – cited by 42% of UK car buyers as the primary reason for avoiding electric vehicles.

Flash Charging operates on the principle of ‘Ready in Five, Full in Nine, Cold Add Three’: a 10-70% charge takes five minutes, a 10-97% charge takes nine minutes, and a 20-97% charge, even in freezing temperatures of -30°C, takes 12 minutes.

The maximum potential charging rate is up to 1,500kW through a single connector. There are two connectors on each Flash Charger, meaning it can charge two cars at the same time; when used simultaneously, they can supply up to 1,000kW each.

The system achieves unprecedented speeds by bypassing the electrical limitations of standard charging hubs and instead using storage batteries installed onsite. Every Flash Charger uses two units with a capacity of 185kWh each, leading to a total of 370kWh per charger. Depending on local infrastructure and vehicle traffic, the battery storage can draw energy from the grid from roughly 100kW and up to 560kW when necessary.

Its ultra-rapid charging speeds are only possible in conjunction with BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0. This second-generation technology has introduced several breakthroughs that have enabled such high charging speeds.

The first car coming to the UK that is capable of such charging speeds is the Denza Z9 GT, while the Denza Z supercar is also Flash Charge-enabled.

However, it isn’t only fully electric cars that will benefit – DM-i plug-in hybrid models are also compatible. The Denza D9 MPV has a 58.5kWh battery which provides an electric-only range of 130 miles and a 10-70% charge in five minutes.

The technology will progressively cascade down to become standard across the broader, entry-level BYD vehicle line-up.

Rollout in the UK starts within the coming weeks. BYD plans to install 300 Flash Chargers nationally within the next 12 months. The rollout will take in a variety of locations, with priority given to BYD and Denza sites covering core towns and cities, as well as high-traffic areas such as motorway service stations and existing charging hubs.

The network will be open to all electric vehicles equipped with standard CCS2 connectors. However, peak speeds require vehicles specifically engineered for this high-amperage input.

BYD has also warned that several “management rules” will be in place to prevent low-speed-charging EVs from occupying ultra-fast Flash Chargers unnecessarily. After the battery reaches a reasonable full-charge threshold or preset stay limit, an extra overstay parking surcharge is likely to be applied to “discourage” long-term unnecessary parking.

In terms of pricing, the services will be priced strictly per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Denza and BYD owners whose cars are factory-fitted with Flash Charging qualify for exclusive preferential electricity rates that BYD says will be considerably lower than prevailing ultra-rapid charging retail prices across the UK market. The exact discounted unit tariff will be announced upon official launch.

Non-BYD/DENZA customers, meanwhile, will pay the published standard per-kWh pay-as-you-go rate for charging. Regardless, pricing will be “competitive with leading ultra-rapid charging providers”.

Payment will be possible by one of four methods: Plug & Charge (Autocharge), scan-to-charge via BYD Flash fast charging app; credit card payment; and RFID electric card roaming payment.

Alongside its unprecedented speeds, the Flash Charging prioritises usability through an innovative overhead design featuring a T-shape rail system that easily reaches any vehicle charging point. The vertical hanging position keeps cables clear of ground dirt and moisture while utilising gravity to minimise weight strain for effortless handling.

Flash Charging sites are also being rolled out with provisions complying with the UK PAS 1899 standard, to accommodate drivers with mobility impairments. These include dedicated accessible parking and charging bays; optimised charger hardware design; and onsite auxiliary support.

The charging hub network will also focus on using clean energy solutions. Solar PV installation will be rolled out selectively across the infrastructure as a core part of BYD’s solar-plus-storage integrated design. This will include rooftop or carport solar arrays at large-scale hub sites, including motorway service stations, out-of-town retail parks and major dealer forecourts where space permits. This means that the battery energy storage system can store green power generated on-site for charger consumption when required.

For compact urban small-scale charging points with limited available space, BYD will rely on certified off-site renewable power procurement instead of onsite solar setup.