A BYD Megawatt Flash Charger in China has reportedly been rendered unusable after its two charging connectors were fastened together with a metal chain.
CarNewsChina reported on Oct 25 that photographs shared by Di Fen Zhi Jia, an unofficial Chinese BYD enthusiast account on WeChat, showed the chained connectors, preventing drivers from charging.
Green indicator lights and an illuminated display were visible, although these do not establish whether the charger was operational.
The location and identity of those responsible remain unknown. BYD had not publicly addressed the incident as of Oct 25.
Separately, BYD’s Denza brand has pledged stronger controls against petrol vehicles and non-charging EVs occupying Flash Charging bays.
In a customer Q&A published on Oct 25, Denza urged affected drivers to report obstructions through its Flash Charging hotline or China’s traffic management app, 12123.
Earlier this month, children were filmed swinging from charging guns and cables at a BYD station in Nanning, prompting a warning from the company’s customer service.
The incidents highlight the challenges of protecting charging infrastructure as BYD expands its Flash Charging network in China and overseas.
In Malaysia, BYD Flash Charger installations have been spotted at Denza dealerships in KL North, Balakong and Glenmarie in the Klang Valley, although none has been confirmed operational.
BYD Malaysia and Gentari signed an agreement on Oct 21 to explore deploying the 1,500kW charging technology along major intercity routes.
