Latest news with #AlfredoAltavilla
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Huge EV boost as new chargers planned for UK add 249 miles in just 5 minutes
EV drivers tired of slow charges are in for a major boost as automotive giant prepares to roll out its ultra-fast 'Flash Charges' across the UK, dramatically enhancing the country's EV infrastructure Brits with electric vehicles (EVs) are set to experience a giant leap forward in charging technology - but there's one small catch. Chinese automotive giant BYD is preparing to bring its ultra-fast 'Flash Chargers' across the UK in a move set to dramatically enhance the UK's EV infrastructure, making charging quicker and more convenient than ever before. The new chargers, capable of delivering up to 1 megawatt (1,000 kW) of power, are engineered to reduce charging times substantially. However, these new technologies won't be rolled out in the UK until 2026, meaning EV owners will have to wait months before getting their hands on the super-fast chargers. The news comes shortly after BYD announced the creation of its own ultra-fast EV charger, representing a major step forward in the industry. It stands out for its remarkable capability — it can add approximately 1.2 miles of range every second, meaning drivers could gain up to 249 miles of range in just five minutes. EV sales hit 315k in 72 hours for one car brand as 500-mile range car launches This speed is comparable to the time it takes to refuel traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, effectively closing the gap between electric and petrol/diesel cars in terms of convenience and usability. The rollout of these high-speed chargers is expected to make EV ownership significantly more attractive to a broader range of drivers. In an exclusive interview with the Independent, BYD special advisor Alfredo Altavilla confirmed the company's ambitious plans. He stated: "In 2026. You will get a few stations in every country in Europe. They will be branded BYD, but they will be open to everybody." So while Flash Chargers will carry BYD branding, they will be accessible to all electric vehicle owners, not just those driving the manufacturer's models. But it's important to note that only vehicles equipped to handle megawatt-level charging will be able to take full advantage of the fastest charging speeds these stations will offer. BYD's latest car tech — the Super e-Platform — features a 1,000V high-voltage architecture with a Flash Charging Battery. It is available in the Han L and Tang L models, which can already be ordered in China. BYD's advisor told the Independent that Denza — the manufacturer's more upmarket brand — models would debut BYD's new technology across the UK and Europe, along with SUVs and sports cars from BYD's luxury brand Yangwang. Altavilla said: "The idea is for Denza and Yangwang to be the so-called technology manifesto of the BYD group. Those are the two brands where all new technologies will be firstly introduced. So, the flash charging for example." The introduction of BYD's Flash Chargers represents a major milestone in the evolution of EV infrastructure in the UK. With the ability to add nearly 250 miles of range in just five minutes, these chargers promise to make EVs even more practical and appealing for everyday use. As the UK moves towards a more environmentally friendly future, such innovations are set to play a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of greener technology and reducing our reliance on planet-killing fossil fuels.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
This is the BYD that's going to take on Porsche and Lotus – and I've been in it
BYD's growth in the UK and across Europe has been phenomenal. In just over two years the Chinese brand has launched six new cars with a seventh on the way, and when its plug-in hybrid DM-i models are taken into account, that number's likely to double by the end of 2026. The company has some swagger, even planning to take on Tesla with its own network of Flash Chargers capable of 1MW charging speeds, making 'filling up' as fast as in a petrol car. Now BYD has set its sights even higher, taking on the sports car elite like Porsche and Lotus with its Denza brand. The first Denza model to arrive will be the Denza Z9 GT next year. Before the launch I got a chance to crawl all over the car when it was on show at the German Car of the Year awards. There was also a large, rugged 4x4 model that could also be rebranded as a Denza on display. The Z9 GT clearly has the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo and Lotus Emeya in its sights, packing quite a punch from its 100kWh battery and three electric motors – one on the front axle, two on the back – combining to make 952bhp. It promises a 0-62mph time of around 3.4 seconds. We don't have too much information on the batteries other than that they'll use BYD's Blade Battery tech and the company's cell-to-body structure. Denza is likely to debut the super-fast Flash Charging technology too. BYD Special Advisor Alfredo Altavilla told us that Denza – and eventually the luxury YangWang brand – would become the technology showcase for the BYD group. It's not just the all-electric Porsche Taycan that the Z9 GT will be targeting. Like the rest of BYD's range, this Denza will be available as a plug-in hybrid, so Porsche's Panamera is also in the Z9 GT's sights. In DM-i form the Denza gets a 38.5kWh battery plus a four-cylinder 2.0 litre turbocharged engine – combined, the electric and petrol systems produce 858bhp with a not-too-shabby 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds. European specifications haven't been set yet, nor have prices, but my first hands-on experience of the Z9 GT suggests that the style, space and quality is up to the mark. Settle into the driver's seat and let the self-closing door edge itself shut and you're in a cabin that feels as premium as anything else on the market. The leather is high quality, as are the chrome and wood materials across the dash and centre console, while there's a very minimalist feel to the inside with screens – as expected – dominating the view. There was a grand total of five screens in front of me when I settled into the Z9 GT. Rather than traditional door mirrors, there were cameras mounted on slim stalks on the front of the doors which fed two screens on the front of the door panels. Then there's a 13in digital display in front of the driver (plus a head-up display, too), a huge 17in central touchscreen and another 13in touchscreen in front of the passenger for good measure. The only buttons you'll find are on the steering wheel. Everything else is controlled via voice control or the central touchscreen panel. There's a fancy crystal gear selector by a couple of cup holders on the centre console, which has a large refrigerated storage box behind and more storage underneath. As is usual these days, there are a couple of cooled, wireless fast chargers for your mobile phone, too. The seats felt supportive and comfortable, with heating, ventilation and a massage function, while the 20-speaker audio system is provided by French maker Devialet. In the back the quality is just as impressive, but there's more space than you'll find than in a Porsche. Headroom and legroom are both generous, making the Z9 GT a decent (and quick) chauffeur car. There are two glass roofs, intersected by a strengthening bar across the centre, which has been used to house a couple of vanity mirrors for rear passengers. They get a fridge between the two rear seats behind the fold-down armrest. The only issue is the fridge means the boot is slightly compromised. You can fold down both back seats, but the fridge stays in position in the middle. Otherwise, the boot is an okay size. You can decide on the looks, but from the side on the proportions are very much like a Taycan Sport Turismo with the extended roof line and swollen rear wheel arches. The drop nose front looks good to me, with slim headlights underlined by LED daytime running lights. Perhaps most impressive of all was the quality of the exterior finish, with a lovely even sheen to the paintwork, which is split along the sides by a piano black feature line that flows all the way around the car. We'll have to wait for pricing for a while, but if Denza prices the car sensibly – which in my book has to be below Porsche – it could well persuade some buyers to take a different route to a premium performance car. That would mean undercutting the £89,000 starting price of the Taycan Sport Turismo and the £99,000 price of the cheapest plug-in hybrid Panamera.
Auto Car
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
China's biggest EV maker will develop future models specifically for European tastes
BYD, the Chinese car maker whose Seal U was the UK's top-selling plug-in hybrid in May, believes it is about to introduce more models more quickly than any car company ever has before. Speaking at the UK launch of the Dolphin Surf, Alfredo Altavilla, BYD's special advisor for Europe (and former COO at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and chairman of ITA Airways) said: 'I have zero problem in saying I don't think there has ever been such a product offensive done in Europe as the one that BYD is doing. 'We have been launching six cars in less than a year. We are covering all of the most important segments of the European car market and the Dolphin Surf was the missing piece in the A/B-segment.' In addition to new models sold under the mainstream BYD brand, the company – already the biggest producer of EVs in the world – will add models from brands less well known in Europe. These include Denza, which targets premium German marques, and Yangwang, which is said to be a technology leader. When BYD introduces new tech, Denza and Yangwang will receive it first, with BYD models following later. 'We're going to get together again after the summer break for another important reveal, and through the end of the year, there will be others. All this is fundamentally building the image of a brand where technology never stops, and this is allowing a set of new cars to be available in Europe in really no time,' said Altavilla. The first Dolphin Surfs to go on sale in the UK have been built in China but production will begin before the end of the year at a new factory in Hungary, where BYD has its European base. The aim is not only to make cars for Europe locally but also to design and engineer them for Europe. The Dolphin Surf has arrived now, 18 months behind deliveries in China and South America, as a result of re-engineering the car to suit European tastes. 'As we go forward into 2026, more and more of the BYD line-up will be specific to this region and this is a big step forward compared to the other Asian brands,' Altavilla said. 'BYD top management has clearly seen that if you want to play big in Europe, you have to have a dedicated product line-up and this is what we will have.' BYD, which has taken a 2% market share in recent months in the UK, intends to be one of Europe's top-selling car makers. 'With the technology we have, coupled with the localisation of the production of the most important cars, we have everything we need to be one of the key players,' said Altavilla. 'Whether it's number one, one of the big three, one of the big five, it doesn't matter, but [BYD will be] one of the big players in the region.'
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
BYD's new EV flash chargers are as fast as petrol pumps – here's when they're arriving in the UK
BYD isn't content with its EVs outselling Tesla, now it wants to take on the American electric car giant's Supercharger charging network with an even faster network of BYD megawatt super-fast chargers. Tesla's Supercharger network is one of the biggest reasons to buy a Tesla, thanks to exclusive use of the charging points for Tesla owners at some locations and the ease with which they work with Tesla models – they recognise the car and automatically bill the owner. There are currently over 60,000 Tesla Superchargers across the world, with the latest units able to add up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes at speeds up to 250kW. BYD announced earlier this year that it has developed its own super-fast charger, called a Flash Charger, that can charge EVs at up to 1MW (1,000kW). BYD says a Flash Charger can add 1.2 miles of charge every second and up to 249 miles-worth of charge in just five minutes, equalling the speed at which petrol cars are able to fill up. Speaking exclusively to The Independent at the launch of the new budget BYD Dolphin Surf electric car in London, BYD Special Advisor Alfredo Altavilla revealed that the first of these so-called Flash Chargers will be coming to the UK next year, while also saying that BYD was aiming to rival Tesla's Supercharger network. When asked when we will see the first Flash Charger in the UK, Altavilla said: 'In 2026. You will get a few stations in every country in Europe. They will be branded BYD, but they will be open to everybody.' Unlike Tesla Superchargers, Flash Chargers will be open to owners of any electric car. However, the fastest charging speeds will be unique to cars with the technology to accept megawatt charging. BYD's latest car tech, its Super e-Platform, features a 1,000V high-voltage architecture with a Flash Charging Battery. It will be available first in BYD's Han L and Tang L models that can now be ordered in China. In Europe and the UK the new Flash Charging Battery could debut in a new model from Denza, BYD's Porsche -rivalling upmarket brand. Altavilla told us that Denza models would debut BYD's latest tech across Europe, along with sports cars and SUVs from BYD's luxury brand Yangwang. 'The idea is for Denza and Yangwang to be the so-called technology manifesto of the BYD group,' said Altavilla. 'Those are the two brands where all new technologies will be firstly introduced. So, the flash charging for example.' Altavilla confirmed that the first Denza model, the Z9 GT saloon, will go on sale in the UK 'at the beginning of 2026.' The Z9 GT would be followed by an MPV, the D9, and then a number of SUVs. Denza models are likely to be sold through a unique network of dealers, or with existing BYD partners where those dealers had experience of selling premium models. Following the announcement of its Flash Chargers, BYD has been contacted by companies wanting to work on the technology with them and to help them build a network of super-fast chargers. 'The minute we made this public, we, and specifically I, started getting dozens of calls from all the companies in the space that want to become our partner in doing this together,' said Altavilla. 'To the extent that if we find the right partner, we'll do it with them. Otherwise, we'll do it on our own.' Altavilla was speaking at the launch of the new BYD Dolphin Surf in London, the brand's sixth new model to go on sale in a little over two years and also it's cheapest, starting at just £18,650.
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
BYD plans new EV blitz by the end of next year
In just over two years, BYD has launched six new models. It's latest – the BYD Dolphin Surf – is being launched in the UK right now. Currently the range comprises six of what BYD calls 'new energy vehicles' – a combination of fully electric and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, technology BYD refers to as a DM-i. However, that's set to more than double by the end of next year with almost every BYD model to be offered as a full EV or PHEV, plus more new models to come. In BYD retailers now are the Dolphin Surf, Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal and Sealion 7 all-electric models, plus the Seal U DM-i plug-in hybrid. The Atto 2 compact EV SUV will be joining the line-up in the coming months to make it seven cars in under three years. There are many more models to come with BYD executive vice-president Stella Li recently telling The Independent: 'We will introduce five DM-i models into Europe in the next one and a half years.' The first to arrive are the Seal 6 DM-i and the Sealion 6 DM-i. The Seal 6 will be available as a saloon and an estate car, while the Sealion 6 is a mid-size SUV. BYD has now confirmed that every new model in future – plus existing models – will be available as both DM-i plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars, starting with the Seal 6 and Sealion 6. The only car not to follow that rule will be the new budget EV supermini, the Dolphin Surf. Talking at the launch of the Dolphin Surf in London, BYD special adviser, Alfredo Altavilla, confirmed that the Seal and Sealion 6 would be coming to the UK 'soon, very soon'. Altavilla went on to confirm the plans for twin EV and PHEV models. 'Fundamentally, by the end of 2026, 90 per cent of our line-up will have both the DM-i and EV version,' he said. 'It will be every car line with the exception of the Dolphin Surf, which will remain as an EV.' Asked to confirm that the BYD DM-i and EV models would be twins rather than separate models, meaning the upcoming Atto 2 compact SUV that was planned as an EV will also be a PHEV, Altavilla said: '90 per cent means that they will be both'. It's not only BYD models that are coming to the UK in 2026. Next year will see the launch of BYD's premium brand Denza, with three new models set to arrive. 'Denza will start off in three main segments,' said Altavilla. 'A sedan the Z9GT, an MPV the D9 and then an SUV – this will be the startup. Then we will complete the line-up, especially in the SUV subsegments.' Altavilla told us that Denza will also have its own retailers rather than rely on BYD's growing network of dealers. 'Dealing with premium customer is a different job than dealing with the mass market customer,' he said. 'We believe that only investors who are already used to dealing with customer in that segment deserve to be appointed Denza dealers. Some of them will be in common with BYD, but most of them will be specific to Denza.'
