BYD has announced the launch of a new integrated charging system in the Abu Dhabi desert, bringing together solar power generation, energy storage, FLASH Charging and robotic charging for the first time in a single solution.
The system combines renewable energy with ultra-fast charging and automated vehicle technology, offering a new approach to the charging experience.
BYD’s FLASH Charging technology brings charging times closer to those of conventional refuelling, charging a vehicle from 10% to 70% in five minutes and 10% to 97% in nine minutes.
Now BYD is further advancing this technology by integrating FLASH Charging with solar power generation, energy storage and robotic charging. The result is an integrated system that goes beyond charging speeds, rethinking how energy is generated, stored and delivered to electric vehicles.
The installation is built around BYD’s Solar-Storage-Charging (SSC) system, linking solar energy generation, battery storage and FLASH Charging. Together, these technologies allow solar energy to be captured, stored and made available for vehicle charging as needed.
By pairing solar generation with battery storage, the SSC system can also support operation independent of the electricity grid. This reduces dependence on the existing power infrastructure and opens up greater deployment flexibility, including in locations where grid access is limited.
The desert installation features a robotic arm that takes care of the vehicle’s charging connection, automatically locating the charging port, opening its cover and inserting the connector. Using visual guidance and force feedback, the arm ensures accurate alignment and a secure connection to BYD’s ultra-fast FLASH Charging system.
By combining robotic charging with Automated Valet Parking, BYD extends automation beyond driving and parking to the charging process itself. Drivers can simply exit the vehicle, lock it and walk away while the car autonomously navigates to a designated charging space. Once parked, the robotic arm takes over, connecting the vehicle to FLASH Charging without requiring drivers to handle the cable themselves.
The Abu Dhabi installation forms part of BYD’s wider FLASH Charging rollout. BYD plans to establish 6,000 FLASH Charging stations worldwide by the end of 2027, expanding access to ultra-fast charging across global markets.
Stella Li, BYD Executive Vice President, said:
“For the first time, BYD is bringing its integrated Solar-Storage-FLASH Charging technology to the global stage. We are providing clean energy generation, energy storage and ultra-fast charging together, and we are making the charging experience smarter, simpler and more seamless for drivers around the world.”
Image courtesy of BYD
