17 Jul 2026
Nine out of 10 used car dealers (90%) say flash charging set to be introduced by BYD later this year is a “game changer” for electric cars, research shows.
July’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 78% believe that it makes charging an electric car as easy as fuelling a petrol or diesel model.
Also, 53% point out that it means a public charger can be used like a petrol pump – queue, fill up and go, while 31% think it makes electric cars accessible to people without space for their own charger.
Very few dealers disagree – 3% believe this type of high-speed charging will be expensive, and 3% believe the infrastructure needed to make it possible is complex and unlikely to be widely available anytime soon.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “BYD plans to introduce flash charging on some models later this year, claiming to charge from 10-70% of battery capacity in five minutes, backed up with a network of proprietary high-speed chargers.
“This appears to be a step change in EV charging and our research shows dealers think consumers will notice and want this technology. Especially, it opens the door to easier EV ownership for people living in terraced houses and apartments who don’t have driveways where their own overnight charger can be installed.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker also shows 87% of dealers believe other car makers will be forced to follow BYD’s lead and introduce their own flash charging equivalent.
Paul said: “It’s interesting some manufacturers have said they could emulate the BYD approach but don’t think it is ultimately good for range and long-term battery health. We could potentially see a battle between different approaches to battery tech playing out in the EV market.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 300 consumers and 60 dealers were questioned.