A BYD Seal fire in Hong Kong caused traffic disruption on Tuen Mun Road on March 3 after flames broke out inside the electric sedan, though investigators later determined the blaze was triggered by a portable power bank rather than a fault in the vehicle.
The incident occurred at about 2:01 p.m. near the Tsing Tin Interchange while the car was travelling toward Hung Shui Kiu. Emergency crews from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department responded quickly and extinguished the fire by 2:19 p.m. The female driver exited the vehicle moments before the flames intensified and was not injured.
According to local media outlet HKET, the burning vehicle briefly caused congestion along the busy roadway while firefighters brought the situation under control.
Investigation traces fire to external charger
A technical inspection carried out at a BYD service centre found the fire started from a portable power bank placed on the passenger seat. Investigators said the device likely experienced a short circuit or thermal runaway, igniting materials inside the cabin.
BYD said in a statement that the vehicle’s high-voltage systems were not involved in the ignition. Despite heavy damage to the interior, the electric sedan’s battery system remained intact.
Engineers confirmed that the Blade Battery pack and the vehicle’s integrated chassis structure were not compromised during the incident.
Battery system remained intact
The BYD Seal uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, which is designed to withstand higher temperatures before thermal runaway occurs compared with some other battery types used in electric vehicles.
The model is built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 and uses Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology, which integrates the battery pack into the vehicle’s structural frame. The battery pack is enclosed within reinforced aluminium panels intended to shield the cells from external heat and impacts.
Although the cabin reached temperatures high enough to damage interior materials and glass, investigators reported that the battery cells did not overheat or ignite.
Electric sedan competes in Hong Kong EV market
The BYD Seal is among the electric sedans competing in Hong Kong’s growing electric vehicle market. Industry estimates suggest around 4,200 units were delivered in the city in 2025.
Also Read: BYD unveils Seal 07 EV with 1,500 kW flash charging and extended range
The model competes with the Tesla Model 3, which recorded an estimated 5,800 deliveries in Hong Kong during the same period. Both vehicles have received five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings but use different battery technologies.
As of early 2026, the BYD Seal is priced at around $30,000 after local incentives in Hong Kong, compared with about $34,500 for the Tesla Model 3.
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