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 fast-charge electric vehicles. According to BYD, the system can thus operate at least partially independently of the power grid. This is expected to be particularly interesting for locations with limited grid capacity.
The system also utilises BYD’s FLASH-Charging technology, which is said to enable compatible vehicles to charge from 10 to 70 per cent in five minutes and from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes. CarNewsChina reports that the system achieved a charging power of 1,000 kW during a demonstration in the United Arab Emirates. However, BYD’s own announcement for this specific installation does not specify a charging power. In March, the manufacturer had already presented a FLASH-Charging system with up to 1,500 kW per charging point.
Additionally, BYD has integrated a robotic arm into the system. This arm detects the vehicle’s charging port, opens the charging flap, automatically plugs in the connector, and disconnects it once the charging process is complete. According to BYD, the system uses camera-based recognition and force sensing for this purpose.
BYD robot handles the charging process
In combination with automated valet parking, this also automates the journey to the charging point: a compatible vehicle can drive autonomously to the charging station and park there. The robotic arm then takes over the connection process, eliminating the need for the driver to handle the charging cable themselves.
However, the robot system is not yet commercially available. Fully automated charging via a robotic arm is also not an entirely new idea. Huawei had already demonstrated a similar system at a 600-kW fast charger at the beginning of 2025.
The installation in Abu Dhabi is part of the international expansion of FLASH-Charging technology. BYD aims to establish 6,000 corresponding stations worldwide by the end of 2027, with 100 FLASH-Chargers planned for Europe.
