We have spotted what appears to be a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for the BYD Flash Charger at Denza Glenmarie in Shah Alam.
If our observation is accurate, Denza Glenmarie, which is operated by Sisma Auto, could very well be the location of the first BYD Flash Charger in Malaysia.
Why are the BESS units a dead giveaway?
Even though the charger’s signature T-shaped structure that houses the charging connectors has not yet been installed at the site, the hardware that we spotted at Denza Glenmarie visually aligns with the BYD Flash Charge energy storage enclosures that we have seen in China.
Back in May, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia, Jacob Ma, revealed that Denza showrooms would be among the very first locations to receive BYD Flash Charge stations. He has also confirmed that the BYD Flash Charger will be open to EVs from all brands, rather than being exclusive to BYD and Denza vehicles.
BYD Flash Charge can deliver up to 1.5MW, supported by BESS
Introduced globally earlier this year, BYD Flash Charge stations are capable of hitting a peak DC charging rate of up to 1.5MW (1,500kW). With supported vehicles, here’s how the charging duration would be:
- 10-70% in 5 minutes
- 10-97% in 9 minutes
- Add 3 more minutes if the temperature is cold
Hence, BYD has come up with a tagline for the Flash Charging technology to represent the speed: “Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3,”.
In order to support the ultra-high power demand and overcome grid limitations, BYD has integrated BESS into the Flash Charge station. These battery banks are being charged from the local grid during idle periods and unleash massive power bursts when a compatible EV plugs in.
The battery in each cabinet has a capacity of 185kWh, so you are looking at a 370kWh total battery capacity for each Flash Charger. When required, the BESS draw energy from the grid at speed of between 100kW to 560kW, depending on the infrastructure capability.
Meanwhile, Flash Charge’s T-shaped pillar doubles as a “Zero Gravity” cable management system. The charging cables are suspended from the top to ensure that the cables remain clean and off the ground at all times.
Not to forget, they can also slide from left to right to accommodate EVs with either left- or right-mounted charging ports.
Which BYD models in Malaysia can support Flash Charging?
To hit a DC charging speed of 1,500kW, the EV must support BYD’s 1,000V platform and be equipped with the 2nd generation BYD Blade battery. Currently, the only BYD model in Malaysia that can fully support Flash Charge is the Denza Z9 GT, which was launched here back in July.
However, non-BYD EVs or older 400V/800V BYD models can still plug in and charge at their maximum supported DC intake rate.
As Jacob Ma previously explained, an 800V EV capable of taking 220kW DC will draw 220kW at a BYD Flash Charger. If an 800V vehicle supports up to 600kW, the Flash Charger will supply the full 600kW without issue.