In China, even the most cutting‑edge technologies can be thwarted by a simple metal chain. In recent days, viral images have shown a BYD ultra‑fast charging station whose two DC connectors are literally chained together, making the station unusable. All this against a backdrop of other, rather surprising uses: weeks earlier, children were seen swinging on the charging cables.
The paradox is striking: as BYD pushes forward with its Flash Charging network, touted as among the fastest in the world, its new charging columns are becoming the target of mischief and perhaps even sabotage. Behind the image of a Megawatt Flash Charger gridlocked by a metal chain lies the broader economic war over fast charging in China, with stakes that could extend beyond its borders.
In China, BYD charging stations chained and diverted from their use
In the looping photographs, you can make out a Megawatt Flash Charger equipped with two DC connectors, linked to each other by a metal chain tightly wound around them. Both handles show a green indicator light, signaling they are ready to charge, and the station’s display works normally. The charging point was not marked as out of service, and the blockage is purely mechanical.
Impossible in these conditions to plug in a single cable without the other hitting the car’s body, with an obvious risk of scratches or dents. A detail that shows just how a cutting‑edge infrastructure — capable of delivering up to 1,500 kW on compatible models — can be neutralized by a remarkably simple gesture. And this isn’t the only misappropriation observed: at the start of the month, children were seen using the charger cables as swings, turning high‑voltage equipment into an improvised playground.
Sabotage, economic warfare and incivility: the Flash Charging network under pressure
For the chained station episode, no one claimed responsibility and BYD did not respond specifically to this case. Online, some internet users pointed fingers at rival brands, suspected of locking plugs to damage the Chinese manufacturer’s image — a scenario widely regarded as risky and potentially disastrous in terms of communications. Another theory points to small independent fast‑charging operators who could feel threatened by BYD’s broad offensive into ultra‑fast charging.
A large share of DC charging in China indeed rests on a franchised model: the franchisor supplies stations and cloud services, while the franchisee provides the land and electricity. Margins are described as very thin, with prices around 1 to 1.5 yuan per kWh outside major metro areas, roughly €0.14 to €0.20 even at peak times. To improve their revenue, some networks add in‑app advertising and charge a one‑timer “charging insurance” that covers potential damage caused by the station, for 0.5 yuan per session, about €0.06. In this tense context, the mass arrival of BYD stations — easy to use and perceived as modern and “trendy” — can be seen as direct competition, even if these Flash Chargers don’t reduce charging times for older models or non‑BYD vehicles.
Facing a rise in misuses, BYD has pledged to strengthen the governance of its Flash Charging network. In a user FAQ, the automaker committed to better counter vehicles that are not actively charging but block spaces — a phenomenon well known to drivers as ICEing. The group recommends Chinese motorists facing such blocking to contact local police via the official app “Traffic Police 12123,” which allows reporting of illegally parked vehicles; drivers receive, in a first step, friendly SMS reminders, before any fines are issued.
Against the backdrop of the project’s scale, the firmness of the plan is also understandable. As of March 5, 2026, BYD claimed to operate 4,239 Flash stations in China and targets 20,000 stations nationwide by year’s end, plus 6,000 internationally, with a start in Europe. The performance claims underscore the stakes: for a compatible vehicle, charging would go from 10 to 70% in five minutes, and from 10 to 97% in nine minutes, with 20 to 97% in twelve minutes at –30 °C. A network of this size, as powerful as it is, becomes a strategic link in the electric ecosystem; the way it will be protected against abuse — be it chains, “car‑vampire” blocking, or cables turned into swings — will be watched closely as these mega stations begin rolling out beyond China.
