EVs are known for their quickness, more so than their original goal of having zero emissions for cleaner mobility. The instant delivery of power to the wheels opened a new door for those with a need for speed. Some of them are even pitting EVs against performance cars.
BYD wants to prove that their offerings aren’t just for straight line speed. They invited us over for some activities with the Han sedan and Tang SUV to see how they will fare in some simulated emergency situations.
The first activity was a full wet linoleum test with the BYD Tang. This is unlike in other drives we had where only one side of the car is on the wet surface and the other on dry cement. This time, the whole run will be on the wet surface with the car starting there too. The assistants even poured soapy water on the wheels before we started.
The BYD Tang has an all-wheel drive system run by two electric motors. One in front, one at the back that puts out 244 and 271 PS respectively (yes, they have different ratings for the front and back) while torque is standard at 350 Nm. With those numbers, it seems like the BYD Tang would be hard to control once let loose on the wet surface, but it proved otherwise.
The initial kick of the power was instant but the traction control was quick to control the wheelspin, to maintain control of the car. It didn’t have a problem making 2 turns even without braking.
For my second run, I floored the throttle to see how the SUV would react. The first turn was reminiscent of a Moose Test as I didn’t brake before turning. The Tang still turned quickly but recovery for the second turn was a bit wide because of the wet surface. It also acted like a rear-wheel driven car as it straightened out once I blipped the throttle once more. Probably why BYD opted to have more output in the rear motor.
The surprising thing about the BYD Tang is despite its size and height, it has minimal body roll. It was so stable that it greatly helped in allowing me to make the right steering inputs in an emergency situation.
In the end though, BYD Philippines still gave us what we really wanted. A low sitting car and a brief flat out experience with their EVs. I’ve driven EVs before but nothing compares to having all this power in a car closer to the ground. The BYD Han went 0-60+ kph in such a short distance, it seemed like I pressed the nitrous in a Fast and Furious movie. Everything was just a blur until I passed the cones and I had to lift my foot off the gas.
They even took things a notch higher by pitting the BYD Han and Tang against some juggernauts in a safe drag race. First was the BYD Tang against a Chevrolet Camaro that the EV simply left behind. They then had a Formula V1 car against the BYD Han. This one is a bit more exciting as they were neck and neck until the halfway mark that the Han’s higher peak power allowed it to leave the Formula car behind.
It was a simple day drive to basically showcase the BYD Han and Tang in a different setting. They’ve been going around in the country proving that they are just as fun to drive in the twisties, and even reached Baguio and back to BGC without recharging to debunk range anxiety concerns.
For this one, it showed that BYD did their homework in making a car. It’s easy to design one that looks good. So too is putting powerful electric motors, nice leather, and tech amenities. What’s not on the spec sheet is how it would react to an emergency situation and here, BYD definitely checked that box.