When it comes to electric cars, Tesla comes to mind first. Elon Musk's company is the most popular in the world today, and its "Autopilot" mode is a major feat. But other companies are trying to emerge from the shadows, starting with the Chinese company BYD.
The company has just solved one of the oldest problems with electric cars: charging time. Until now, the general public has been held back in their willingness to buy because of the time spent at the charging station. But with the new battery presented this Monday by BYD, this will no longer be a problem.
The brand is indeed offering a range of 400 kilometers in just 5 minutes. A promise that was still insane a few years ago. With such a proposal, BYD is knocking out Tesla, which is already struggling in the battery sector. Indeed, Elon Musk's cars have been dreaming for years of being powered by their own battery.
The businessman has already explained on several occasions that he wants to build "in-house" energy storage units. But the highly complex development of such a component has been delayed several times. Earlier this year, the CEO of CATL, one of the world's leading battery designers, declared that Elon Musk "didn't know how to" make batteries for an electric car.
Fast charging, bad in the long run?
The promise of ultra-fast charging is what many people believe will make them buy an electric car. But before you get out your checkbook, several questions need to be asked. Concerns have particularly emerged in recent years regarding the overall lifespan of batteries.
With very rapid, and therefore very violent, recharges, the long-term health of batteries could be less good. For the moment, this fear is not a consensus in the scientific world, but studies are currently underway to assess the risks of such a recharge.
BYD: Tesla's nightmare?
Since Elon Musk's arrival in government, subsidies for the development of electric car companies have been dwindling. Musk's "budget cuts" have targeted his opponents, and BYD is bearing the brunt of Donald Trump's tariff increases.
Despite the White House's trade attacks, BYD is a solid company, whose reputation is growing daily. The company has achieved financial profitability and is gaining market share every day in Europe. On the other hand, Tesla is in serious trouble.
The American brand has just published disastrous figures worldwide. As a direct consequence of this bad patch, Tesla's stock market value has fallen by 40% in the past month. A health financial situation that does not seem to worry Elon Musk, who is already very busy with his political role in the White House.
0 Comments