YHK - yet another hacker news clone

BYD looking to build 5-minute EV charging network in Canada

13 points toomuchtodo 48 minutes ago 5 comments

samtheDamned 24 minutes ago | parent

For context, BYD is only just entering the Canadian market[1], it looks like they're looking to really make their mark. Also the article mentions "the low six-per-cent tariff is capped at just 49,000, split between not only Chinese brands but Tesla, Volvo, and Polestar" and suggests that BYD may plan to build some of their cars in Canada.

I don't understand NAFTA very well but might that open the door to BYD cars being able to be sold in the US as well? if they aren't blanket banned that is.

1: https://eletric-vehicles.com/byd/byd-canada-targets-twenty-d...

jerlam 1 minute ago | parent

The current laws ban cars connected to/associated with China, not just their manufacturing location. Polestar was recently banned entirely even though one of their cars was manufactured in the US.

Although decisions have been arbitrary and capricious lately, and laws haven't been consistently enforced.

LoganDark 17 minutes ago | parent

This is insane. Just a few years ago I was gawking at Chinese battery-swap stations, and now their chargers are pushing FIFTEEN HUNDRED KILOWATTS

toomuchtodo 16 minutes ago | parent

Its fairly cool because, in order to deliver current at these rates, battery storage colocation is typically required (as utility power can rarely deliver this current at these speeds). Every fast DC charge station becomes a battery storage node on the electrical grid, and together, they become a globally distributed virtual power plant. They will soak up low carbon energy when cheap, and could potentially discharge for energy price arb distinct from EV fast DC charging, while also acting as distributed grid health support (frequency and voltage support).

Five minute charging and grid support to deprecate thermal generation is solved simultaneously, with batteries that continue to rapidly decline in price.

CATL now sells batteries online for $63/kWh - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49438604 - August 2026 (4 comments)

Battery costs have declined by 99% in the last three decades, making electrified transport a reality - https://ourworldindata.org/battery-price-decline (First published in 2024; updated and rewritten in March 2026)

LoganDark 13 minutes ago | parent

Yeah, I was just thinking that station would probably have to be a pretty big power bank in order to deliver that kind of surge. So cool.