Sinopec, China's largest fuel retailer, has completely removed underground gasoline tanks and pumps from a service station at 1209 Huqingping Road in Shanghai, repurposing the site exclusively for BYD's 1,500 kW flash chargers. This marks the first physical result of the BYD-Sinopec partnership announced on June 3, 2026, and signals a fundamental shift from fossil fuel retail to dedicated EV infrastructure.
The hub features six of BYD's 'T'-shaped chargers with two cables each, providing 12 charging spots arranged like traditional pump islands to preserve driver familiarity. For vehicles equipped with compatible second-generation Blade batteries, the system delivers 10% to 70% charge in about five minutes and 10% to 97% in roughly nine minutes, with cold weather performance extending to around 12 minutes at -30°C.
A 1,500 kW charger would normally require a substation-grade grid connection, which ordinary gas stations lack. BYD's solution uses four Blade LFP battery packs (169-185 kWh each) per charger as buffers. The site draws only about 100 kW from the grid to keep these buffers topped up, allowing megawatt-level output without grid upgrades. The batteries also serve as backup power during outages.
This transformation is part of a broader industrial and capital cooperation framework signed on June 3, covering charging networks, integrated services, and supply chain development. Sinopec chairman Hou Qijun framed the deal as a push to 'jointly promote the green transformation and upgrading of China's transportation network,' while BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu has promoted a 'Flash Charging China' strategy built on the second-generation Blade battery. Similar conversions are expected at other Sinopec stations.
The buffered-battery model offers a replicable blueprint for rapid EV charging deployment without extensive grid upgrades, which is critical for logistics fleets, commercial vehicle operators, and energy infrastructure investors. By leveraging existing real estate and grid connections, this approach reduces installation costs and deployment timelines. The scale of Sinopec's network—30,000 stations—presents a massive opportunity for suppliers of battery systems, charging hardware, and energy management software.
The catch remains that 1,500 kW charging currently requires vehicles engineered for it, which are predominantly available in China. However, the infrastructure playbook—grid-friendly, low-cost deployment on existing high-traffic sites—is a competitive advantage that global markets may need to adopt to accelerate EV adoption.
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