More than a third of electric vehicle drivers want five-minute public charging to become standard by 2035, according to new research from BYD. The Chinese automaker’s study reveals what UK drivers expect from the next generation of electric cars.
What Drivers Want by 2035
BYD surveyed 2,000 UK motorists for its report titled ‘The Cars of 2035: What UK Drivers Really Want‘. Nearly half the respondents – 49% – want software-defined, intelligent vehicles that think ahead.
The top demands paint a picture of cars that act more like smart assistants:
- 49% want predictive maintenance that spots problems before they happen
- 47% expect better hazard detection systems
- 35% want special turning features for tight parking spots
- 34% demand ultra-fast, five-minute charging
That last point matters especially now. BYD plans to roll out its Flash public charging network across the UK this month alongside its premium Denza brand.
BYD’s Flash Charging Network
The company will install 600 Flash chargers nationwide over the next year. These units deliver up to 1,500kW – that’s 1,250kW more than Tesla’s Supercharger network and 1,150kW more than ultra-rapid networks like Ionity and Fastned.
More than half of current EV and plug-in hybrid owners believe BYD’s technology will make five-minute charging real.
“More than half of EV and PHEV owners believe that five-minute charging will become a standard feature in everyday cars by 2035,” said Steve Beattie, BYD UK chief. “Our Flash charging tech makes that possible, charging BYD’s latest Blade Battery 2.0 from 10-70% in that timeframe.”
Beyond Fast Charging
Other features UK drivers want include automatic parking finder and payment systems (30%), pothole-dodging capabilities (14%), and flood-proof vehicles (13%).
BYD already builds some of these seemingly futuristic features. The company’s luxury Yangwang brand offers an all-electric U9 hypercar that can jump over potholes. The Yangwang U8 plug-in hybrid SUV includes an ‘Emergency Water Floating mode’ – it’ll float on water for up to 30 minutes.
“The line between science fiction and everyday driving is getting thinner,” Beattie added. “Drivers want intelligent vehicles that make their lives easier, and future car technology should reduce stress and even become more than just ‘nice-to-haves’.”
The research suggests that features once considered far-fetched – like amphibious capabilities and pothole-avoiding systems – aren’t as distant as they might seem.
BYD’s luxury YANGWANG models have already demonstrated these innovations in real-world conditions.
