Ultra-fast charging BYD Han L and Tang L go on sale in China

Chinese carmaker BYD has launched two new electric vehicles – the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV – and they come with some really cool technology: super-fast charging. This means drivers won't have to wait long at charging stations to get back on the road. Both the Han L and Tang L also come in hybrid versions.

The prices for these new cars are lower than what BYD first said they would be. For the all-electric Han L EV, there are three different models. The prices start at about $29,910 and go up to just over $38,000 (RMB 219,800 to RMB 279,800). All versions of the Han L EV use BYD's Blade batteries with a capacity of 83.2 kWh, and depending on the model, the car can travel between 373 miles and 436 miles on a single charge. These, of course, are the optimistic CLTC figures, with real-life numbers being quite a bit lower, but a 311 miles range should be easily achievable.

But the really exciting part is how fast the Han L can charge. It uses a 1,000 V system that can take power from two chargers at the same time. This means the Han L EV can get enough power for about 249 miles of driving in just five minutes. It can also charge from 10 percent to 70 percent full in only six minutes. To charge the battery completely from empty to full takes about 20 minutes.

The cheaper versions of the Han L EV have one motor that powers the back wheels. This motor can make up to 500 kilowatts of power, which helps the car go from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.5 seconds. The most expensive version has two motors, one for the front and one for the back. Together, these motors make even more power – 810 kilowatts – and propel the car from 0 to 62 mph in a super-quick 2.7 seconds.

The hybrid version of the Han L called the Han L DM, comes in three versions with prices starting at around $28,540. These hybrid cars use a gasoline engine along with an electric motor and battery. The battery can store 29.4 kWh of power and lets the car travel up to 124 miles just on electricity. When you combine the electric range with a full tank of gas, the Han L DM can travel up to 746 miles.

The other new car is the Tang L EV, an all-electric SUV. It also comes in three versions with prices starting at about $32,600. The cheaper versions have one motor powering the back wheels, similar to the base Han L EV, and can go from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds. The most expensive Tang L EV has the same powerful dual-motor system as the top-end Han L EV and can do 0 to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds.

The Tang L EV also sports super-fast charging, though it's a little slower than the Han L EV. It can get enough power for about 230 miles in five minutes. Charging from 10 percent to 70 percent takes six minutes, and a full charge from empty takes about 30 minutes. The slower charging is due to Tang L's bigger battery with a capacity of 100.5 kWh.

There's also a hybrid version of the SUV, the Tang L DM. It comes in three versions with prices starting at around $31,260. It uses the same gasoline engine and electric motor as the Han L DM but has a bigger 35.6 kWh battery. This gives it an electric driving range of up to 134 miles and a total driving range of up to 789 miles with a full tank and a full charge.

With the new Han L and Tang L, BYD solves the biggest problem EV owners face - slow charging. It's not a perfect solution - you need to use two guns to get the maximum speed, and the chargers have to be fast as well. Still, the idea of an electric car charging as fast as a gas-powered car fueling up has been an unachievable dream since the dawn of EVs. It took a Chinese company to make it come true.

Via