BYD faces controversy over EDF partnership and new charging tech

The partnership between the French state-owned electricity provider EDF and Chinese automaker BYD has drawn significant political criticism in France. Lawmakers have questioned why a 100% state-owned entity would favor a foreign industrial competitor over domestic manufacturers. In response to the controversy, the French government has reportedly instructed EDF to terminate its agreement with BYD by the end of 2026.

The collaboration involved integrating Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) into BYD’s electric vehicle offers, providing discounts for French individual and corporate customers to encourage electric mobility.

Separately, BYD has unveiled its ‘Flash Charging’ technology, utilizing the Blade 2.0 battery. This system can charge a vehicle from 10% to 80% in approximately six minutes and 38 seconds, reaching average power levels of 850 kW. However, technical reports indicate that these ultra-fast charging speeds, which involve high voltage and current, can cause significant temperature increases in the battery cells, with some measurements reaching 76°C.