What is flash charging for electric vehicles?

Editor and In-House Content Writer

Neil Goodwin is an in-house content writer at Select covering all things automotive. A former national newspaper journalist and PR consultant, he loves his motorcycles as much as he loves his cars....

Published 30 April, 2026, 09:05 GMT | Updated 30 April, 2026, 09:06 GMT

Flash charging for EVs explained
Chinese manufacturer BYD is leading the charge in the UK
We explore the tech behind ultra-rapid EV charging
‘Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3’ philosophy
Exclusive interview with Bono Ge, Country Manager for BYD UK and Ireland

What if you could charge an electric vehicle in the same amount of time it takes to fill up a tank of petrol?

That’s the aim of so-called ‘flash charging’ - an ultra-rapid EV pit-stop designed to banish range anxiety for good.

It’s coming to the UK this year and could completely overhaul how we even think about electric vehicles.

To keep you ahead of the curve, we sat down with someone who’s pioneering the tech - Bono Ge, Country Manager for BYD UK and Ireland - to figure out what it all means.

What is flash charging, in a nutshell?

Flash charging is, essentially, a form of ultra-rapid charging for an electric vehicle that puts refill times on a par with that of a conventional combustion engine car.

While a host of manufacturers are working on their own flash charging systems - including Geely’s Zeekr - it’s Chinese brand BYD that’s leading the charge (pun intended…) here in the UK.

In fact, they’ve even patented the term ‘Flash Charging’ - and it’s the name affixed to their charging units.

This isn’t pie-in-the-sky tech, either.

BYD’s Flash Chargers already exist in China (they aim to install 20,000 by the end of 2026) and they’re being lined up for a proper UK launch later this year, too.

If it delivers what it promises, it could be nothing short of a gamechanger.

^{(Denza Z9GT, above)}

How fast is flash charging?

If you pull into a typical motorway service station in the UK to find a rapid or ultra-rapid charger, you’re looking at a charging speed of between 50kW to 150kW DC, as an average.

If you’re lucky, and you’re visiting a newer hub, you might even find an ultra-rapid charger capable of hitting speeds of around 350kW DC.

While the rate of charge depends on what your car’s battery will accept, with a standard rapid charger you’re looking at a 10-80% battery replenishment in around 20-40 minutes.

With BYD’s Flash Charging, on the other hand, the system can reach speeds of up to 1,500kW - which is FOUR times quicker than current and fastest ultra-rapid chargers.

BYD’s Flash Charging is underpinned by a ‘Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3’ philosophy.

So, you get pretty much a full refill (10%-97%) in just nine minutes.

The ‘Ready in 5’ bit means a 10-70% charge in just five minutes.

And Flash Charing will even work in the depths of a Siberian winter - just add 3 more minutes to the ‘Full in 9’ time and it works down to -30 degrees C.

^{(One of BYD's T-shaped Flash Chargers)}

Does flash charging work with any EV?

BYD tells us that any electric vehicle will be able to use its Flash Chargers.

BUT - there won’t be any benefit to a regular EV in terms of charging speed unless it’s set up to harness a Flash Charger’s power.

And that’s where BYD’s ‘Blade 2.0’ battery comes in.

BYD has increased the energy density of the battery itself, while retaining safety and durability, so that it accepts 1,500 kW charging.

There’s a clever 'FlashPass' Ion Transport System that pushes the boundaries of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries which reduces internal resistance and cuts heat generation at the source.

BYD’s Bono Ge tells us: “Flash Charging isn’t about the charging itself, it’s about the battery. You can build a high powered charger but you must make sure the battery can accommodate the right C-rate.”

Which is precisely what BYD has done.

^{(Denza Z9GT, above)}

What will flash charging cost in the UK?

Bono Ge says prices are still to be confirmed but in an ideal world he’d like to let customers pay sub-50p per kWh - around double the amount they pay to charge an EV at home on the standard rate.

That 50p per kWh figure is important - it’s actually cheaper than most rapid or ultra-rapid stations in the UK - and also roughly on a par with what Tesla customers might shell out at a Supercharger.

Ge adds: “Flash charging should be a reasonable price. That’s what I find when driving abroad. If you’re on the motorway in France you only pay around 40p per kWh. In the Netherlands, you pay around 55p per kWh.”

In the UK, an ultra rapid charge at a motorway service station could set you back around 70p-90p per kWh.

^{(Denza Z9GT, above)}

What’s the first car in the UK capable of flash charging?

The first car destined for the UK to get BYD’s Blade 2.0 battery and which will be capable of Flash Charging isn’t actually a BYD at all - it’s a Denza, with Denza being BYD’s premium sub-brand.

The car itself is the Denza Z9GT, which is due to arrive in the UK in the coming weeks. It’s a stunning electric ‘shooting brake’ estate with a range of up to 373 miles between charges.

But more models capable of flash harging will follow in quick succession.

BYD has already confirmed its Seal 08 and Sealion 8 will both get a Blade 2.0 battery with flash charging capabilities (though it’s not clear just yet whether those cars will make it to the UK. Watch this space).

^{(BYD Flash Charger with battery storage unit)}

When are flash chargers being installed in the UK, and won’t they cripple the national grid?

Bono Ge says BYD is actively talking to dealers and charge point operators and hopes to get 200 Flash Chargers up and running in the UK by the end of 2026.

He adds: “As long as we can get the product, there will be a quick turnaround.”

Getting permissions granted from councils here in the UK will, however, take slightly longer than in BYD’s native China.

When it comes to strains on the national grid, BYD is confident there will be no such issues.

That’s because the Flash Charging stations utilise a battery storage system; over time, the grid slowly feeds large capacity storage batteries before those batteries are then used to put energy into the cars when required. It takes the stress out of the grid system.

A BYD spokesperson tells us: “To support this scale and speed of rollout in a wide variety of locations, the station is paired with an ultra-fast-discharge energy storage system that helps to break through grid restrictions. It uses a battery that gets recharged at slower speeds, and can act as both an energy reservoir to prevent grid overload and a power amplifier that enables high-power charging.”

The charging stations themselves look like nothing else we’ve seen thus far.

They’re T-shaped in design with the connector attached to a pulley-based, rail-sliding cable that makes it easier - and more hygienic - to handle.

^{(BYD Blade battery)}

What about battery swap tech vs flash charging?

There’s something of an arms race among manufacturers to see who can launch the most effective way of reducing EV refuelling times.

One major brand, China’s NIO, has implemented battery-swap tech.

The ‘Power Swap’ system, already rolled-out in China and in limited numbers in Europe, sees motorists pulling into a drive-through garage, where their depleted battery is simply swapped for a full one (the battery drops out of the vehicle’s floor before a new one is inserted from below).

It works on a subscription basis; you can buy the vehicle without the battery, and then your subscription includes a battery lease and access to the Power Swap stations.

For BYD, the company says its Flash Charging overcomes some of the perceived limitations of battery swap tech; customers don't need to lease a battery, the manufacturer doesn't need to store hundreds, potentially thousands of expensive spare batteries ready for swapping, and drivers may have added peace of mind when they go on longer trips.

Bono Ge argues: "If you’re a car owner in the UK and you drive to Spain, with an electric car you know you can charge it, guaranteed. If you need a battery swap, can you guarantee you can definitely swap it there? Battery swap is a good solution but I think there are some pros and cons."

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What is flash charging for electric vehicles?