BYD Wants You to Charge Your EV While Ordering KFC-In Under 10 Minutes
Charging at Drive-Thru Speed
BYD has announced on its WeChat account that its Flash Charging technology – capable of charging an electric vehicle to about 97 percent in as little as nine minutes – is coming to KFC locations in China. What sets this apart from typical charging stations is the added convenience: customers can order food directly through their vehicle's infotainment system while en route.
This partnership could prove significant, given that both BYD and KFC are leaders in their respective fields in China. It could also help the automaker move closer to its goal of establishing 20,000 Flash Charging stations by the end of 2026, up from around 5,000 currently. For reference, these stations – based on a 1,000-volt architecture with up to 1,500 kW of charging power – can charge EVs significantly faster than many U.S. DC fast-charging options, with vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 typically needing about 30 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent.
Making Stops More Useful
In the long run, the collaboration could help address one of the biggest drawbacks of EV ownership: charging is often less convenient than refueling a gas car, which typically takes only a few minutes. It may also serve as an early example of a broader trend, with more businesses potentially adopting similar setups.
For now, though, the Leopard Titanium 7 will be the first to benefit from the collaboration, with other models expected to follow gradually. BYD also plans to expand its Flash Charging network globally, including Europe, where the Denza Z9GT is the first model equipped with the ultra-fast charging capability.
Reducing the Friction
If none of these nameplates ring a bell, that's understandable. The U.S. remains largely closed off to Chinese-made EVs, imposing 100-percent tariffs for a range of reasons, including protecting domestic automakers from lower-cost imports and addressing geopolitical concerns. Canada, however, is allowing a limited number of Chinese EVs into its market, a move the U.S. has condemned and warned could lead to higher tariffs on Canadian imports.
The broader takeaway is that EV makers need to find new ways to reduce friction around ownership, especially as EV adoption has slowed following the current administration's rollback of some EV-friendly policies. In that context, the BYD-KFC collaboration looks like a smart move. After all, eating is part of everyday life, which underscores the simple point that integrating EV charging into familiar routines could make the switch feel more natural for more consumers.
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This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 2:45 PM.