BYD and KFC launch the ultimate ‘power lunch’

BYD has partnered with KFC in China to transform thousands of fast-food drive-throughs into ultra-fast EV charging hubs, deploying its new 1500kW ‘Flash Charging’ tech across a rapidly expanding national network.

The brand claims the system can add up to 2km of driving range per second and charge a compatible battery from near empty to full in about nine minutes – roughly the same time it takes to devour a three-piece feed. 

The system is designed to work seamlessly with BYD’s second-generation Blade batteries, currently available in models such as the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 and Tai 3, with more vehicles expected to adopt the new battery technology going forward.

Beyond the raw charging performance, the user experience leans heavily on software integration.

Drivers can plug in at a KFC drive-through, with the vehicle’s infotainment system linking directly to the KFC app. From there, the system can locate the store, place an order and monitor the vehicle’s charging status.

Once charging is complete, the kitchen is notified, ensuring the food is ready at the same time as the vehicle. According to BYD, most users leave with around 320km of added range per stop.

The rollout in China is already well underway. Around 5000 Flash Charging stations were operational by the end of March this year, with plans to expand to 20,000 across more than 2000 cities by December.

The partnership effectively turns KFC’s 13,000 locations into a widespread charging network.

While the technology remains exclusive to China for now, it highlights the rapid pace of EV infrastructure development in BYD’s home market.

It’s a savvy play from BYD and KFC and we expect to see Maccas, Red Rooster and other popular fast-food brands deploying similar strategies in the near future.

In terms of BYD’s 1.5 megawatt charging tech, that’s a long way off.

Australia’s fastest public chargers currently peak at around 350-400kW; a fraction of BYD’s claimed capability.

However, with BYD now the top-selling EV brand locally, there is growing speculation the 1500kW charging tech could be fast-tracked to Australia to give the challenger brand an edge.

More broadly, the partnership between KFC and BYD underscores a different approach to solving range anxiety – embedding charging into everyday destinations rather than building standalone infrastructure.

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