A viral video from Nanning, China, shows children using the liquid-cooled cables of a BYD Megawatt Flash Charging station as swings. The incident occurred on October 2, 2026, at a public charging site. BYD confirmed that playing on equipment is prohibited and dispatched maintenance teams to inspect the location, promising to increase monitoring.
The Megawatt Flash Charger, introduced in March 2025, uses a 1,000V architecture and supports peak charging rates up to 10C. The system delivers 1,000 kW at 1,000V and 1,000A, with hardware capable of reaching 1,500 kW. Cables are suspended on overhead T-tracks with spring-loaded retractors to manage the weight of the 3.0 kg to 5.0 kg connector guns.
Engineers warn that while safety interlocks prevent electrical hazards in standby mode, the misuse causes structural fatigue. The liquid-cooled cables contain internal coolant channels and communication lines that may suffer damage from pendulum stress. Current standards like GB/T 18487.1 do not account for such high-amplitude dynamic loading on suspension systems.
BYD is currently expanding its infrastructure, with over 10,000 Megawatt Flash Charging stations already operational in China. The company aims to reach 20,000 domestic stations by the end of 2026. International expansion plans include 6,000 stations by the end of 2027, with 3,000 units planned for the European Union and 300 for the United Kingdom.
