BYD Investigates Bringing 5-Minute Flash Charging to Canada

BYD appears to be investigating rolling out its super fast charging network in Canada, according to a recent job posting for a Flash Charging Business Development Manager in Toronto, Ont.

Per the posting, the manager would be responsible for “the development, optimize action [sic], and performance of BYD Canada's flash charging network development.” The role will also support “BYD’s flash charging network expansion strategy and business growth across Canada.”

AutoTrader reached out to BYD for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

The posting suggests that the automaker is still in the preliminary stages of this expansion, as the applicant’s responsibilities would include research and analysis, partner development, project planning, and more. However, the implications of this role are significant.

BYD’s flash charging network provides megawatt charging capabilities that allow electric vehicles to go from 10-70 per cent state of charge in as little as five minutes. The jump from 10-97 per cent state of charge, meanwhile, takes just nine minutes. Crucially, even at temperatures as low as -30°C, the same charge to 97 per cent takes just 12 minutes.

The network avoids overloading wider power grid by using big stationary batteries that allow it to slowly take power from the grid, before quickly delivering to an electric vehicle. That also means that it can consistently deliver 1,500 kW of output to vehicles, even when multiple EVs are charging at the same station.

The system also uses a liquid-cooled charging cable that’s suspended from an overhead T-shaped structure to ease usage and prevent the plug from touching the ground.

Intriguingly, although BYD uses the Chinese charging standard plug (GB/T) in its home market, it has opened its stations to vehicles that use the Combined Charging System 2 (CCS2) plug in Europe. That’s the same family of plugs that were preferred by legacy automakers in North America before the majority decided to switch to the North American Charging System (NACS) that was pioneered by Tesla.

It remains unclear what charging system Chinese automakers will opt for once they reach Canada (Geely’s Volvo has made the switch to NACS), but if BYD wants to maintain a competitive advantage over Tesla (its biggest international rival) it may opt to deny the American automaker easy access to its Flash Charging stations, opening the door to another charging standard conflict in North America.

Regardless of which charging standard is used, only vehicles with 1000V electrical architecture. However, in other markets, BYD allows its stations to be used by compatible vehicles from any brand.