A major rival to Tesla’s international operations announced on Monday that its electric vehicles (EVs) can charge in only five minutes. But Americans are unlikely to be able to purchase these vehicles in the foreseeable future.
Why It Matters
EVs have been viewed by some as the future of transportation, touted as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable option than cars powered by fossil fuels like oil and gas.
Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, is the dominant EV producer in the United States, but has suffered financial consequences from Musk’s involvement in President Donald Trump’s second administration. Controversy sparked by some of his actions, a reduced demand for Teslas and lower sales have contributed to its stock steadily declining throughout 2025.
The five-minute charging time announced by Chinese manufacturer BYD could have key implications for the global EV market as more competition arises in the sector.
What To Know
BYD launched a new platform for their electric vehicles with 1,000-volt architecture that could charge EVs within five minutes, more comparable to the time it takes to pump gas, Reuters reported.
Cars powered by this new platform could travel about 249 miles after the quick charge, Reuters reported.
At the moment, many potential consumers view the time it takes to charge an EV as a drawback. Teslas take about 15 minutes to charge, compared to just a few minutes to pump gas.
While the shorter charge time may change the game in international markets, American consumers won’t see them on the roads anytime soon. BYD does not sell in the U.S., due in part to a tense relationship between Washington and Beijing.
U.S. officials have questioned whether these cars could pose national security concerns, and trade policy with China is another barrier. Trump has already imposed steeper tariffs on Chinese goods, as well as levies on foreign-made automobiles, since his return to office, meaning these vehicles may become more costly if there were attempts at selling them in the U.S.
Stella Li, BYD Americas CEO, told Yahoo Finance in February 2024 the company has no plans to sell in the U.S., describing it as an “interesting market” but “very complicated if you’re talking about EVs.”
BYD sells in many countries throughout Latin America, Asia and Europe. Fortune magazine reported that Tesla sold only 24,234 more vehicles than BYD worldwide last year.
Newsweek reached out to Tesla and BYD for comment via email.
What People Are Saying
Matt Teske, founder and CEO of Chargeway, to Axios: “Tesla has definitely moved from leader to laggard in EV battery and charging technology at this point.”
Joanna Chen, a China autos analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence to Bloomberg News: “This could mark the beginning of a new wave of model rollouts, propelling BYD’s battery-electric vehicle sales to catch up with hybrids after they fell behind in 2024.”
What Happens Next
The full affect this development will have on the EV industry will play out over the coming weeks and months.
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