Electric Vehicle BYD Song Plus withstands thunderous bolt hits, displaying no discernible damage.
In a remarkable demonstration of modern EV design safety, a BYD Song Plus EV withstood three lightning strikes while driving in Beihai, Guangxi, China, on August 6. The incident, which has since been widely shared on Chinese social media platforms, left the driver unharmed and the vehicle's key systems, including the battery pack, motor, and electronic control system, undamaged.
The safety of the occupants can be attributed to the Faraday cage effect, a phenomenon where the metal body of the vehicle conducts the lightning current safely around the exterior and directs it to the ground, preventing electrical flow through the cabin. This was confirmed by engineers and experts who inspected the vehicle post-incident.
Upon inspection, the only visible damage was two small lightning impact points on the roof, with no other damage to the exterior or interior of the vehicle. The power battery pack, electronic control system, and motor showed no signs of short-circuiting, further underscoring the vehicle's resilience.
Li Yunfei, BYD's general manager of brand and public relations, shared the report on Weibo, highlighting the incident as a real-world proof of the EV's structural and electrical safety in extreme conditions. The Song Plus EV is part of BYD's Ocean series, with a starting price in China of RMB 149,800 to RMB 175,800.
The owner of the Song Plus EV remained inside the vehicle after the incident and called for rescue services while waiting for a tow truck. A mechanic who inspected the vehicle, quoted in a report by the local media outlet Chongqing Daily, stated that it was the first time they had seen a vehicle struck by lightning in their 12-year career.
Despite this remarkable incident, BYD's sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in July dropped to the level of the previous year, with the company selling 344,296 NEVs, down 10.01 percent from June. The Song family, which includes the Dynasty series Song L EV, Song L DM-i, Song Pro DM-i, and the Ocean series Song Plus EV and Song Plus DM-i, was BYD's second-best-selling model in July, selling 59,026 vehicles.
The decline in sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) by BYD continued in July. At an exchange rate of $1 = RMB 7.1827, the starting price of the Song Plus DM-i, the hybrid variant of the Song Plus, ranges from RMB 135,800 to RMB 175,800.
In conclusion, the incident serves as a testament to the safety and resilience of modern EVs, particularly the BYD Song Plus EV, in extreme conditions. The vehicle's ability to channel the lightning safely around the occupants, effectively showcasing the protective role of the vehicle's structure during lightning events, is a significant milestone in the development and acceptance of electric vehicles.
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