BYD's new megawatt charging network is running into problems on the ground. electrive's Nov. 2 report follows CarNewsChina's earlier coverage of the incident.
What happened
The photos show a thick chain wrapped around both charging handles and padlocked. Using the charger would risk damaging a car. The display was intact and the handles showed green "ready" lights.
Who might be behind it
Social media users have blamed rival brands. Both outlets think a conflict within the local charging business is more plausible. Much of China's network runs on franchises, and fast-charging margins outside big cities are only about 1–1.5 yuan per kWh. BYD's rapidly growing network puts pressure on independent operators. Some online commenters suspect the incident was staged for clicks.
A pattern of problems
In October, videos showed children using the heavy charging cables as swings. BYD has said it will tighten site management, prevent combustion and non-charging cars from blocking bays, and asks users to report violators through the official traffic police app.
