Range anxiety is something which causes many to hesitate getting a fully electric vehicle. Given that the network of charging stations is relatively limited – unlike petrol stations – there is concern that if they are about to run out of electricity, there might not be a charging station near enough to ‘refuel’.
And it is unlike a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) where even if you run out of fuel, you can still get a lift to a station, get some fuel and come back and fill up to continue your journey. Unfortunately, today’s technology does not allow EV batteries to be recharged with the powerbanks we use for our mobile phones.
The other thing which is also a drawback of EVs is that recharging requires a longer time at the charging station – depending, of course, on how much recharging you want. The times are shortening each year as technology advances and waiting time will eventually become a non-issue.
470 kms of range in 5 minutes
BYD, the global leader in New Energy Vehicles (which includes those with hybrid electric powertrains), has given us a glimpse of the future with its latest technology which can recharge an EV with up to 470 kms of range within 5 minutes. That’s about equal to refuelling a small fuel tank in an ICE car.
Of course, this can only be achieved with not just the new battery technology but also the EV’s charging system as well as the charging station itself. The 5-minute time would be the best possible, and manufacturers typically quote such figures which require the most powerful DC supply the EV can be recharged with. If you have power supply is lower, then the time will be longer.
New Super e-Platform
This new development by BYD can be achieved with its new Super-e Platform that can accept a power supply of up to 1,000 kW (1 MW or megawatt). That stronger supply is key to shortening recharging time (but the EV’s charging system must also be able to accept it).
Charging stations with 1 MW are already in existence, ready to meet the needs of larger fully electric commercial vehicles. In fact, two are planned for the charging station at the Johor Premium Outlets which will be the largest fast-charging EV hub in Southeast Asia.
Available in China from next month
As BYD will be introducing a new EVs with the Super e-Platform (as early as next month), it will also install 4,000 of these new generation of ultra high-power chargers in China.
While there have been concerns that faster recharging using stronger power supplies can impact battery life, this has not been fully proven. Besides chemistry, battery life depends on various usage factors such as operating temperatures, recharging practices, etc and like petrol consumption in an ICE car, some will last longer and some will have a shorter lifespan.
Visit BYD Sime Motors to know more about BYD models available in Malaysia.