BYD, Elon Musk’s EV rival, releases electric vehicles that can be charged in five minutes and are less expensive than Teslas

Tesla is left behind when a Chinese automaker introduces revolutionary electric vehicles with lightning-fast charging technology.

The competition for electric vehicles has intensified. With the introduction of two new EVs that can be charged in only five minutes, Chinese automaker BYD—often referred to as Tesla’s fiercest competitor—is upending the market. Five, indeed.

BYD’s recently announced Super E-Platform, a state-of-the-art system intended to eliminate lengthy charging times—one of the main grievances of EV owners—is being installed for the first time in the new Han L sedan and Tang L SUV. A brief five-minute break at a powerful charging station may extend a driver’s range to 400 kilometers, or roughly 249 miles, according to BYD. In less time than it takes to get coffee, that’s almost a full tank of driving power.

In contrast, BYD’s Super E-Platform achieves an astounding 1,000kW charging speed, which is four times quicker than Tesla’s fastest Superchargers, which have a maximum capacity of 250kW.

Better still? The cost.

Starting at about $30,100, the base model Han L car is more than $10,000 less expensive than the most affordable Tesla Model 3. Because the Tang L SUV starts at about $32,700, both models are particularly appealing to EV consumers on a tight budget.

BYD made it plain when it first announced its supercharged platform last month that it aims to eradicate “range anxiety.” Many drivers worry that their batteries will die before they can locate a charger. According to BYD, this type of charging speed is paving the way for a time when refueling an EV will be as easy and rapid as filling up a gas tank.

There is little doubt that Elon Musk is hoping the BYD vehicle won’t reach the United States.