Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has announced a partnership with KFC to offer a ‘one-stop’ experience to EV users in China. The initiative will allow drivers to charge their vehicles and buy food in less than 10 minutes.
The collaboration involves Yum China Holdings, which operates the KFC brand in the country. The two parties plan to develop a nine-minute drive-through network, allowing users to stop at KFC branches while charging their vehicles.
The ‘nine-minute’ concept refers to BYD’s second-generation Blade battery technology that can achieve up to 97% charge in that time. It is seen as an important step in addressing consumer concerns about EV charging times.
In addition, BYD has also introduced a smart ordering function that allows drivers to order food directly through the in-car system.
The system also displays KFC drive-through locations along the route and will be introduced in stages starting with the Fangchengbao Ti7 SUV model.
The initiative aims to improve efficiency during travel, particularly in addressing the issue of waiting times when charging EVs.
BYD also continues to expand its infrastructure network, completing 5,000 fast-charging stations as of March and targeting 20,000 stations by the end of the year.
From an industry perspective, this move capitalizes on the high demand for fast food in China, which is part of the urban lifestyle.
KFC has nearly 13,000 outlets in over 2,500 cities, while the country's fast food industry is estimated to be worth over $176 billion and is expected to continue growing.
