A photo of the BYD Great Seagull at a Flash Charging station is the clearest sign yet that BYD may bring ultra-fast charging to its city-car class. The sighting raises the prospect that the model could use the brand’s megacharger, though BYD has not confirmed its specifications.
Posted by Liang Xiao Ping on Weibo and reported by CarNewsChina, the image shows the new Seagull set up for what looks like an official photo shoot. It suggests BYD is preparing to showcase the Great Seagull’s ability to use Flash Charging, which could change buyers’ expectations for entry-level EVs. Reuters has reported that BYD already has megawatt-class Flash Charging systems and Blade batteries that can charge from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. Reuters also reported that BYD announced it had reached 2,000 highway Flash Charging stations three months ahead of schedule as part of its “Flash Charging China” strategy.
BYD has not disclosed the system voltage or maximum charging power. The MIIT homologation lists two LFP batteries, 30 kWh and 39.2 kWh, both made by FinDreams, with CLTC ranges of 320 and 420 kilometers. The LFP designation does not indicate whether they are first- or second-generation Blade batteries. Chinese sources cited by CarNewsChina say Flash Charging will likely be available on higher trims, probably with the larger battery. That would fit BYD’s approach with other models.
The numbers matter. If the Great Seagull gets the Blade 2 battery, its specifications would be striking. BYD says it can charge from 10% to 70% in five minutes and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes, even at minus 30 degrees Celsius. For the 39.2 kWh battery, that would mean adding about 23.5 kWh in five minutes. Average power would be 282 kW, with peaks above 300 kW. By comparison, the Dolphin Surf charges at under 90 kW. The Geely E2 averages 60 kW between 10% and 80%, taking about 30 minutes for a similar charge. The Great Seagull could do it in five minutes, one-sixth of the time, and add 200 kilometers of range in those five minutes.
The 1,500 kW figure often associated with Flash Charging refers to the charger, not the car. The basic question is whether the Seagull’s system runs at 400 or 800 volts. Higher voltage means less current for the same power, but it costs more and requires better electronics and cooling. Most CCS2 chargers in Europe max out at about 500 amps, so the Seagull’s actual charging speed will depend on both its voltage and the chargers it uses.
Price remains unknown. The current Seagull sells in China for 69,900 to 85,900 yuan, about 9,200 to 11,300 euros before taxes and homologation. The new model is bigger and better equipped, so it will cost more. If BYD can offer Flash Charging below 100,000 yuan, around 13,100 euros, it would be a first for the brand at this price. So far, the cheapest BYDs, the Seagull, Dolphin and Yuan UP, have not had Blade 2, even though half the lineup already uses it. Earlier reports said the Seagull and Dolphin would not get Blade 2 until 2027. The new photo points to a possible much earlier launch.
Market pressure is building. In August, BYD sold 10,103 Seagulls in China, while the rival Geely Xingyuan, sold in Spain as the Geely E2, recorded 39,651 sales. Geely leads BYD in sales, with a larger car and more seating. BYD’s best move may be to get ahead on charging speed instead of competing on price.
The Great Seagull’s place in the lineup remains unclear. It was first announced as a model between the Seagull and Dolphin; later, BYD’s Zhang Zhuo called it the “second generation Seagull.” The company has not said whether it will replace the current Seagull or sit above it. The new car is 4,205 mm long, 42.5 cm longer than the old Seagull and just 6.5 cm shorter than the Dolphin. It has a single 95 kW front motor and a top speed of 150 km/h. Its design features trident-shaped headlights and a lower window line. Inside, all information appears on a central floating screen.
For buyers in Europe, the picture is less clear. The 3.78-meter Seagull is sold as the Dolphin Surf, extended to 3.99 meters with larger bumpers. BYD has just launched five-seat versions of the current body in Spain, starting at 24,490 euros for the Boost trim. The fifth seat was added through rehomologation, not as part of a new model. This suggests BYD plans to keep the current Dolphin Surf in Europe for now, especially after sales fell because it lacked a fifth seat. In China, but, the Seagull was refreshed in May and replaced just four months later. Europe could get the new model sooner than expected, but no dates have been confirmed.
BYD’s charging plans are also ambitious. The company has promised 300 Flash Charging stations in Spain, open to any car with a CCS2 plug and priced below 0.50 euros per kWh. The first station is already operating in Leganés, where a Denza Z9 GT charged from 10% to 97% in under nine minutes. In Spain, but, only the Denza, which starts at 115,000 euros, can use this charging speed. No BYD sold in Spain has the Blade 2 battery yet, and the brand says it will take about 24 months for these models to arrive. For now, the stations mostly serve cars limited to 150 kW. A small city car that can add 200 kilometers of range in five minutes would change the options for urban drivers without home charging.
As Chinese brands put pressure on Spain’s electric-car market, with recent analysis showing the shift, BYD’s push to bring ultra-fast charging to more buyers could force the whole segment to adapt. If the Great Seagull launches with Flash Charging before the end of 2026, BYD will have moved faster than expected and set a new standard for what city drivers can get from an affordable EV.
