BYD combines a solar panel system, battery storage, and a megawatt charger.

BYD has unveiled a charging system in the Abu Dhabi desert that combines photovoltaics, battery storage, FLASH Charging, and a charging robot. According to CarNewsChina, the system achieved a charging capacity of 1,000 kW during the demonstration.

BYD’s robotic arm automatically connects the vehicle.

Image: BYD

The core of the installation is BYD’s so-called solar-storage-charging system. This system stores solar power generated on site and then uses it to quickly charge electric vehicles. According to BYD, this setup allows the facility to operate at least partially independently of the power grid. This is particularly useful for locations with limited grid capacity.

BYD’s FLASH-Charging technology is also used here. It is intended to allow compatible vehicles to reach 70 percent charge in five minutes from 10 percent, and 97 percent in nine minutes from 10 percent. CarNewsChina reports that the system achieved a charging capacity of 1,000 kW during a demonstration in the United Arab Emirates. However, BYD does not specify any charging capacity for this particular installation in its announcement. In March, the manufacturer had already introduced a FLASH-Charging system with up to 1,500 kW per charging point.

In addition, BYD has integrated a robotic arm into the system. This arm identifies the vehicle’s charging port, opens the charging lid, automatically inserts the connector, and disconnects it after the charging process is complete. According to BYD, the system uses camera-based recognition and force sensors for this purpose.

BYD Robot Takes Over Charging Process

Combined with automated valet parking, this system aims to automate the journey to the charging station as well: a compatible vehicle can drive itself to the charging spot and park there. The robotic arm then takes over connecting the cable, eliminating the need for the driver to handle it manually.

However, this robotic system is not yet available commercially. Fully automated charging using a robotic arm is also not entirely new. Huawei demonstrated a similar system at a 600-kW fast charger in early 2025.

The facility in Abu Dhabi is part of the international expansion of FLASH-Charging technology. BYD plans to build 6,000 such stations worldwide by the end of 2027, with 100 FLASH-Chargers to be installed in Europe.