The new BYD Seagull may feature Flash Charging. Image modified by CarNewsChina. Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member More details regarding the second-gen BYD Seagull are emerging ahead of its official launch. After MIIT listings and official cabin design sketches were published, new spy shots of the new EV hatchback hint at flash charging, promising 9-minute charging sessions and improved cold-weather performance. The second-gen Seagull is often called the “Great Seagull” because it’s larger than the current Seagull. It’s also called the Dolphin Mini, Dolphin Surf, and the Atto 1 in select markets, and it is positioned below the BYD Dolphin. A Flash Charging Seagull Spy shots show the new Seagull parked in front of a mockup of a Flash Charging station, presumably ahead of an official photoshoot. This hints at the inclusion of BYD’s hallmark tech with the new hatchback, which promises: Charging in 5 minutes from 10% to 70% Charging in 9 minutes from 10% to 97% Only 3 minutes slower at -30°C The new Seagull, parked in front of a Flash Charging mockup station.Credit: Weibo – Liang Xiao Ping CarNewsChina has reported on the new Seagull’s specifications, and it’s poised to come with 30 and 39.2 kWh LFP battery packs. CLTC range is specified as 320 (259 km WLTP) and 420 km (340 km WLTP), respectively. It’s currently unclear if both battery packs will feature BYD’s “Blade Battery 2.0” LFP cells, a prerequisite for Flash Charging. Chinese sources predict that Flash Charging will be limited to higher trims, presumably paired with the larger 39.2 kWh pack. If true, a high-trim Seagull could deliver an average charging power of 282 kW during a Flash Charging session from 10% to 70%. This is equivalent to 7C charging, or 7 times the battery’s capacity. Instantaneous charging power may even exceed 300 kW at the start of the session, then ramp down as battery SoC (state of charge) and temperature rise. This would give the new Seagull a significant edge over its rivals, most of which are limited to sub-100 kW charging. For comparison, the current Seagull offers only air-cooled batteries on its entry-level 305 km trims, which may affect charging speeds and pack lifespan in hot climates. BYD is unlikely to offer air-cooled options to bring down the new Seagull’s entry price. More on the new Seagull The new Seagull brings a range of upgrades over the current car, including size, tech, battery size, power, and seating. Its exterior dimensions have swelled to 4205/1810/1570 mm, with its wheelbase growing to 2,650 mm. It can also seat five passengers, up from four. The refreshed BYD Seagull. The refresh also brings a beefier motor, with its single front motor now putting out 95 kW (127 hp), up 40 kW (54 hp) from the current car’s top trim in China. Its top speed has also received a slight boost, now rated at 150 km/h. Real-world sightings of the new Seagull show it with a roof-mounted LiDAR, hinting at BYD’s DiPilot 300 assisted driving system, also known as God’s Eye B in China. The current Seagull can also be optioned with the LiDAR-based system, albeit at an extra 12,000 yuan (1,800 USD). BYD says the new Seagull will launch in China this year, but pricing hasn’t been announced yet. The current Seagull retails between 69,900 and 85,900 yuan (10,400 to 12,800 USD), and the new-gen model is expected to exceed this. It may also become BYD’s first car to bring Flash Charging below the 100,000 yuan (15,000 USD) price point. The automaker is busy rolling out its network, with its 10,000th station opening in late August. It also plans to reach 20,000 stations by the end of 2026. Source: Weibo – Liang Xiao Ping Most important news in your inbox. Recaps · scheduled All you need, in one email. Instant alerts · real-time Ping me when an article goes live. 0 of 27 topics selected Bundle into one email per day — instead of one email per article No spam · Unsubscribe with one click · Change settings anytime