Sinopec and BYD Convert Shanghai Gas Station into 1,500 kW EV Charging Hub

Sinopec, China's largest fuel retailer, has converted a traditional gas station in Shanghai into an EV-only charging hub in partnership with BYD. The project marks the first physical implementation of a strategic cooperation framework signed by the two companies on June 3, 2024.

Located at 1209 Huqingping Road, the site has undergone a complete infrastructure overhaul. Sinopec removed the underground gasoline tanks and replaced them with BYD's second-generation Blade battery buffers. This hardware supports 1,500 kW flash chargers, featuring six "T"-shaped units with two cables each, providing a total of 12 charging spots. For compatible vehicles, these chargers can deliver a charge from 10% to 70% in approximately five minutes, and from 10% to 97% in roughly nine minutes.

Solving the Grid Bottleneck

The technical core of the hub is designed to bypass the need for massive, time-consuming grid upgrades. Each charger is backed by four Blade LFP battery packs with capacities ranging from 169 to 185 kWh. These packs act as a power buffer, allowing the station to pull nominally only 100 kW from the electrical grid to keep the batteries topped up, while simultaneously pushing 1,500 kW of power into vehicles.

This approach allows megawatt-scale charging to be deployed rapidly across existing urban real estate without waiting for utility companies to install substation-grade connections. It aligns with BYD's "Flash Charging China" strategy and the deployment of its 1,000V Super E-Platform.

A Strategic Pivot for Oil Giants

The move represents a significant shift for Sinopec, which currently operates over 30,000 comprehensive service stations and 14,000 charging or battery-swap stations, serving roughly 20 million customers daily. By actively cannibalizing its own fossil fuel infrastructure, the state-owned giant is hedging against the rapid transition to electric vehicles in China's passenger market. Sinopec Chairman Hou Qijun stated that the partnership aims to "jointly promote the green transformation and upgrading of China’s transportation network."

The Road to 20,000 Stations

This Shanghai hub serves as a blueprint for a massive national rollout. BYD has set an ambitious target to establish 20,000 flash charging stations across China by the end of 2026. As more traditional fuel stations are converted, the industry will be watching whether this battery-buffered model can scale effectively to meet the demands of a fully electrified transport network without overwhelming the national power grid.