BYD isn’t holding back. At the recent Atto 2 launch at its new UK HQ in Uxbridge, the EV maker revealed not one, but two major battery innovations: the UK’s first in-house battery repair centre and its insane new ultra-rapid ‘flash charging’ tech.
UK’s first battery repair hub
On September 30th, BYD will open a new battery repair facility in Milton Keynes, the first of its kind in the UK. The idea is to keep BYD EVs on the road longer while cutting down lifetime maintenance costs.
Even though BYD’s passenger cars have only been around for three years, its buses have been running on UK roads since 2014. The new centre will handle complex battery repairs that dealers can’t, meaning you won’t have to swap the whole battery just because one part goes bad.
Bono Ge, BYD UK’s country manager, explains: “The main reason why batteries are expensive to repair is because of the tools and machinery needed.”
“It could be that only one cell (inside the battery) has lost 20% of its capacity, but the rest are at 95% – the repair centre will be able to identify which cell is faulty and replace just that one.”
The facility isn’t just about repairs, either. It will also be a tech hub, helping BYD understand how batteries perform over a car’s lifespan, which is a smart move if you want your EV to last.
Ultra-rapid flash charging
The other big reveal is BYD’s next-level charging tech. Their new ‘flash charging’ can top up a flat battery in around six minutes. In a demo, a Han L in China gained 20km of range in just 10 seconds.
This is possible because BYD has upgraded its ‘blade’ battery tech to handle 1000kW charging. The UK might see this tech by 2026, starting with the Denza Z9 GT, BYD’s new luxury model.
Bono Ge says the UK faces a challenge with power: “The challenge in the UK is the power capacity. The output is one megawatt, but it’s the energy storage which is the key.”
Since we don’t have megawatt-level chargers yet, BYD is building huge energy banks that store power from the grid and unleash it at high speed when needed.
With faster charging and smarter battery repairs, EV ownership might finally feel less like a hassle and more like a smooth ride.
