China’s new plug-in hybrid SUV targets 9-minute charging, more than 1,000-mile range

Chinese EV giant BYD is preparing to launch the Fang Cheng Bao Ti 9, a full-size six-seat plug-in hybrid SUV built around a combination of high-output electric motors, a 66.48 kWh Blade Battery, and an unusually fast charging system. The company said its flash-charging technology can take the battery from 10 percent to 97 percent in nine minutes, potentially making charging speed one of the model’s main selling points. The Ti 9 will officially launch in China on November 19, ahead of its public appearance at the 2026 Guangzhou Auto Show. Fang Cheng Bao general manager Xiong Tianbo said earlier that display vehicles had reached 21 dealerships across 12 cities, with deliveries underway in another 20 cities. The launch follows the opening of reservations earlier in November. A Ti 9 also rolled off BYD’s Xi’an production line that day as the company’s 19 millionth new energy vehicle, marking a production milestone for the Chinese automaker. Dual electric motors deliver 536 hp The Ti 9 uses BYD’s sixth-generation DM-i plug-in hybrid system, pairing a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors. The combustion engine produces 154 hp, while each electric motor is rated at 268 hp. Together, the motors provide a combined peak electric output of 536 hp. According to reports, the configuration gives the SUV substantial electric propulsion capacity while retaining a gasoline engine for longer journeys. Energy comes from a 66.48 kWh second-generation lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery. BYD claims an all-electric driving range of 193 miles under the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC). With a full battery and fuel tank, the Ti 9 has a claimed combined range of 1,013 miles under China’s CLTC testing standard. The estimated equivalent under the WLTP cycle is about 808 to 861 miles, though real-world range depends on driving conditions and vehicle configuration. When the battery is depleted, fuel consumption is rated at 36.8 mpg under WLTC testing. These figures position the Ti 9 as a large hybrid SUV designed to combine substantial electric driving capability with the flexibility of a conventional fuel-powered vehicle. Nine minutes flash charging The most notable technology claim for the Ti 9 model is the flash-charging system. BYD claims the system can charge the battery from 10 percent to 70 percent in five minutes and reach 97 percent in nine minutes. The company also claims that the system can charge the battery from 20 percent to 97 percent in 12 minutes at temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit. That cold-weather figure is particularly relevant because low temperatures can reduce battery charging performance and increase charging times. The 66.48 kWh Blade Battery uses lithium iron phosphate chemistry, which BYD has developed across its electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle lineup. The second-generation battery is central to the Ti 9’s claimed electric range and rapid-charging capability. However, BYD has not disclosed the peak charging power, the precise charging infrastructure required to achieve the advertised times, or the conditions under which the figures were recorded. Those details will be important for assessing how readily the technology can be used outside controlled testing conditions.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Bojan Stojkovski is a freelance journalist based in Skopje, North Macedonia, covering foreign policy and technology for more than a decade. His work has appeared in Foreign Policy, ZDNet, and Nature.