By the time you’re done eating, your electric vehicle will be charged and ready to go. BYD is partnering with KFC to offer EV drivers a 9-minute one-stop shop and charge service.
BYD and KFC launch one-stop 9-minute EV charging
Fast food is, well, usually pretty quick. You can get a snack or meal almost instantly, but can you sit down, eat it, wash your hands, etc, in under 10 minutes?
Through its new partnership with KFC, EV drivers can “enjoy a burger while their eco-friendly car is fully charged,” BYD said on its Weibo account on Wednesday.
BYD and KFC’s parent company, Yum China Holdings, are launching a network of drive-thru locations in China that will feature BYD’s Flash chargers. Drivers will be able to order directly from the vehicle’s infotainment system using a new “smart ordering” function.
The in-car service will initially be available in the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7, BYD’s luxury off-road plug-in hybrid electric SUV, before it rolls out to other vehicles.
The 9-minute fast charging is enabled by BYD’s new Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging Technology, which the company introduced last month.
BYD is promoting the new tech with the tagline ‘Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3.” With charging speeds of up to 1,500 kW, BYD’s Flash Charging stations can charge an EV from 10% to 70% in just five minutes. In 9 minutes, EVs can charge from 10% to 97%, and at temperatures as cold as -30°C, it takes just 3 minutes longer to recharge from 20% to 97% in 12 minutes.
After launching the new Denza Z9 GT in China last month, equipped with the Blade Battery and Flash Charging, BYD said it was the “world’s longest pure electric driving range vehicle” with up to 1,036 km (620 miles) range under CLTC conditions.
BYD is bringing its Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging to overseas markets, including Europe and Australia. The Denza Z9 GT made its European debut at the Paris Opera House on Wednesday night with Daniel Craig, who played James Bond for 15 years, promoting the new luxury EV.
In Europe, the Denza Z9 GT has a WLTP range of up to 599 km (372 miles) with prices starting at €115,000 ($134,500). That’s over three times more than in China, where it’s priced from just 269,800 yuan ($39,300).
Will BYD and KFC expand the one-stop 9-minute EV charging to overseas locations? KFC is one of the largest fast food chains in the world, with over 33,000 locations in 149 countries and territories, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the fast food and even faster EV charging service roll out in markets like Europe.
BYD has already installed thousands of Flash Chargers across China, and confirmed plans for a global rollout, including an initial wave in Europe.
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