BYD reveals new Qin Max EV with Flash Charging aimed at young buyers

This one isn't about home energy upgrades or rebates. BYD, the Chinese automaker, has previewed a new electric sedan called the Qin Max, a bigger version of its existing Qin L model. The car is aimed at younger buyers in China and features fast-charging technology BYD calls Flash Charging, paired with its Blade Battery 2.0 system.

The headline feature is charging speed: BYD says vehicles with this battery and charging system can go from 10% to 97% charge in about nine minutes, with a 10% to 70% charge taking around five minutes. The Qin Max will come in both fully electric and plug-in hybrid versions, with the electric model offering two battery options rated for roughly 330 miles or 391 miles of range under China's testing standard. It's slightly bigger than a Tesla Model 3 in most dimensions, though with a shorter wheelbase.

Pricing and a firm launch date have not been announced. For comparison, the smaller Qin L EV launched last year starting around $17,500 and sold more than 10,000 units in its first week in China. None of this affects home energy programs or rebates, and BYD vehicles are not currently sold in the US, so this is mainly relevant if you're tracking EV technology and battery charging speeds in general rather than planning a purchase.