byd unveils 1,000hp heavy‑duty electric semi with 20‑minute charge
BYD announced the ET44, its first heavy‑duty electric semi‑truck, capable of hauling a 44‑ton combination and delivering a peak output of 735 kW – just under 1,000 horsepower, according to the company’s specifications.
Source: Supercar Blondie on MSN · September 27, 2026 at 8:18 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
BYD announced the ET44, its first heavy‑duty electric semi‑truck, capable of hauling a 44‑ton combination and delivering a peak output of 735 kW – just under 1,000 horsepower, according to the company’s specifications.
Market Impact
The manufacturer said the ET44 can be recharged from 20 % to 80 % in roughly 20 minutes using its own megawatt‑scale chargers, a speed that matches the charging power of Tesla’s Semi, which charges at up to 1.2 megawatt, as noted by YouTuber The Electric Viking.
The ET44 is built around BYD’s LFP Blade Battery, a lithium‑iron‑phosphate pack that the firm claims will be offered with a long‑term warranty, though the exact duration was not disclosed in the announcement.
By targeting a 44‑ton payload, BYD aligns the truck with the maximum load permitted on European roads, a figure that exceeds Tesla’s advertised capacity by four tons, the source pointed out.
Pricing details were not released, but industry observers expect the ET44 to be positioned below the Tesla Semi’s price point, potentially giving BYD a cost advantage in markets where total‑ownership cost drives purchasing decisions.
The company indicated that the ET44 will enter the European market by 2027, with plans to expand to Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom thereafter, according to the release.
Analyst commentary highlighted that while BYD’s rapid charge time and higher payload are strengths, Tesla’s larger battery packs – 548 kWh or 822 kWh depending on configuration – may deliver greater range, a factor that could influence fleet operators, The Electric Viking explained.
The unveiling adds to BYD’s growing portfolio of electric commercial vehicles, which has already seen strong sales across South America, Australia and other regions, as reported by supercarblondie.com.
No immediate impact on Malaysian logistics operators was identified in the source material, and the announcement does not reference any local manufacturing or supply‑chain involvement.