BYD demonstrated its FLASH Charging system in the UK for the first time this week, recharging a DENZA Z9 GT from 10% to 97% in nine minutes at the company’s Uxbridge headquarters. The live demonstration — the first of its kind in the UK — was presented to media and VIP guests by BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li. Paired with the company’s latest Blade Battery 2.0, the system delivers up to 1,500kW through a single connector, which BYD says makes it the fastest charging currently available.
Highlights
- 1,500kW through a single connector when FLASH Charging is paired with the Blade Battery 2.0
- “Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3”: a 5%–70% charge in five minutes, 10%–97% in nine minutes, and 20%–97% in 12 minutes at -22°F (-30°C)
- A five-minute charge adds 223 miles of range to the DENZA Z9 GT, based on its 372-mile WLTP Combined rating; nine minutes adds 323 miles
- 300 chargers planned in the UK by the end of 2026, at DENZA stores and other locations
How Fast Is FLASH Charging?
BYD frames the system’s performance around the principle of “Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3.”
| Phase | Charge window | Time | Range added (Z9 GT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready | 5%–70% | 5 minutes | 223 miles |
| Full | 10%–97% | 9 minutes | 323 miles |
| Cold Add 3 | 20%–97% at -22°F (-30°C) | 12 minutes | — |
Range figures are based on the Z9 GT’s 372-mile WLTP Combined rating. WLTP figures typically run higher than EPA estimates, and no EPA rating applies to vehicles sold outside the US market.
The demonstration vehicle, the DENZA Z9 GT, is the first model coming to the UK market capable of accepting FLASH Charging. BYD positions the technology as a step toward removing the remaining barriers to EV adoption.
How Does FLASH Charging Avoid Grid Upgrades?
According to BYD, FLASH Charging places no greater demand on the grid than existing, slower EV chargers. Energy is supplied by on-site battery storage, which is topped up throughout the day as required — drawing between 100kW and 560kW depending on demand.
The company says this design is what allows a rapid rollout: 300 chargers are planned for installation at DENZA stores and other UK locations by the end of 2026.
The charger hardware itself uses a T-shaped unit housing two cables, each hanging vertically on a rail. BYD says the arrangement makes connecting to a vehicle easier regardless of charge-port location and keeps cables from dragging across the ground, where they can get wet or dirty.
What BYD Leadership Said
“The first demonstration of FLASH Charging in the UK is another significant landmark for the technology,” Li said. “FLASH Charging’s ability to make our second generation Blade Battery ready in five minutes, full in nine minutes, and to add just three minutes in cold weather sets a new standard for the future of premium mobility. Our DENZA brand is driven by technology that inspires, and witnessing FLASH Charging today, as shown by the Z9 GT, is truly inspirational.”
The UK event follows the unveiling of Blade Battery 2.0 and FLASH Charging in Shenzhen earlier this year and the European debut of the technology with the Z9 GT in Paris.
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