*This content was translated by AI.
Chinese automaker BYD has reimagined existing gas stations in Shanghai as its own ultra-fast "Flash Charging" charging hubs, based on a collaboration with state-owned oil giant Sinopec. This hub marks the first Flash Charging hub jointly operated by the two companies, following a partnership agreement signed in June 2024 to convert existing gas stations.
The first retrofitted charging hub is located near Hongqiao Transportation Hub, a key transportation nexus where Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, high-speed rail station, and three subway lines converge. To secure space, underground fuel storage tanks at the former gas station were demolished and replaced with a charging buffer battery system. Six T-shaped stands equipped with two charging cables each have been installed on-site, enabling up to 12 electric vehicles to receive charging services simultaneously.
Supporting facilities for user convenience have also been significantly enhanced. Inside the lounge area, tables and recliner chairs are available, along with a "Health Monitoring Station" capable of instantly measuring blood oxygen saturation and heart rate. Additionally, Easy Joy, Sinopec's flagship convenience store brand, has opened a 24-hour unmanned store offering drinks and snacks via digital payment, creating an all-in-one environment for charging and relaxation.
BYD's Flash Charging system centers on utilizing four Blade Battery packs (with total capacities of either 169kWh or 185kWh) as buffers to alleviate power grid load. The system draws only about 100kW from the external power grid while pre-charging the buffer batteries during charging wait times. This allows for ultra-fast charging from 10% to 70% battery level in just five minutes, and up to 97% in nine minutes. Even in extreme low-temperature environments as cold as minus 30 degrees Celsius, charging delays are reduced to under three minutes.
Sinopec stated that starting with this first hub in Shanghai, it plans to continue converting major gas stations across the country into BYD Flash Charging hubs. This collaboration is being hailed as a representative model case where traditional oil distribution networks merge with electrification technology to transform existing gas stations into future mobility infrastructure hubs.
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*This content was translated by AI.
