Going to China wasn’t just about the Beijing Auto Show. At the invitation of BYD, I spent three intensive days in Zhengzhou – a 13-million aglomeration that houses a major R&D centre and a massive manufacturing plant for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). In this episode, I summarize everything our hosts showed us, completely unfiltered and straight to the point.
You’ll see spectacular demonstrations on a brand-new test track, including the 3.5-tonne luxury SUV, the Yangwang U8, which can actually float on water and tackle an artificial sand dune. I take a look at automatic parallel parking by shifting the rear axle, and experience the Yangwang U9 electric supercar. I also deconstruct the internet legends about a factory allegedly larger than San Francisco and check how the promises of 1500 kW Flash Charging hold up in practice.
In this video:
The NEV Test Track: Does a 70-metre wading pool and a 28-degree artificial dune impress an automotive journalist?
Tank-style Parking: How the Denza N8L enters a parking spot nose-first and why this innovative solution might be brutal for tyres.
Archimedes' Principle in Automotive: How the million-RMB Yangwang U8 floats, why it's strictly an eme
