New BYD can charge up in just nine minutes: 2026 BYD Song Ultra EV debuts 'flash charging' credentials in pitch against Kia EV5, XPeng G6, and Tesla Model Y

BYD has revealed a new electric vehicle (EV) that’s capable of flash charging at a rapid rate.

The 2026 BYD Song Ultra EV, an electric mid-size SUV, comes with the Chinese maker’s second-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade battery and is capable of charging from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.

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Entry-level versions come with a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 240kW of power and 305Nm of torque. This is fed by a 68.4kWh battery pack, allowing for a claimed range of 620km, according to relatively lenient CLTC testing.

Higher models feature a slightly more powerful rear-mounted electric motor that produces 270kW. They also get a larger 82.7kWh battery pack allowing for a CLTC-claimed range of 710km.

In terms of design, the Song Ultra EV has elements reminiscent of a number of other BYD models. There’s minimal front fascia with a full-width light bar, a clean side profile with flush door handles as well as a full-width light bar at the rear.

Standard equipment includes adaptive dampers across the line-up, as well as a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch central touchscreen multimedia system, head-up display, interior ambient lighting, fridge/hotbox, plus heated and ventilated front seats.

On the safety front there are seven airbags, as well as an optional package that adds Lidar and 27 sensors enabling semi-autonomous driving functionality in city and highway scenarios.

At this stage it’s unclear whether the mid-size Song Ultra EV will come to Australia. BYD’s electric SUV line-up currently consists of the small Atto 2 and Atto 3, as well as the mid-size Sealion 7.

If it does come here it will go up against rivals like the Kia EV5, Tesla Model Y, XPeng G6 and Zeekr 7X among others.

Although BYD sales in China have been faltering over the past few months, they have been accelerating in Australia.

In the first two months of 2026, the Chinese carmaker sold a total of 10,324 vehicles, which is up 161.0 per cent year-on-year.

Its best-seller currently is the Sealion 7 electric SUV (2498 sales), followed closely by the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute (2166 sales).