by Chinese automakers have been working hard over the past decade to shed their reputation as manufacturers of cheap and low-quality cars. And in many respects, they have succeeded. However, from time to time incidents occur that again raise doubts about reliability.
BYD Tang electric car lost its motor while driving
Last week, Chinese social media was stirred by videos and photos of a BYD Tang electric car driving on a road in Shenyang during a heavy downpour. At first glance, nothing unusual, but attention was drawn to the electric motor literally hanging out of the back of the car. It was still attached to the vehicle but was no longer functioning.
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Initially, assumptions arose that the motor fell out due to shallow flooding of the road. Of course, ordinary cars are not designed to drive through water, but in the video, the water layer did not exceed a few centimeters. Therefore, the version that water caused the motor to fall seemed unlikely.
Official statement from BYD
According to the official version from BYD, the motor did not fall out due to contact with water. The manufacturer claims that the car suffered a “severe impact to the underbody” when the driver was crossing a puddle. It is likely that before the video was taken, the water level was significantly higher.
“We contacted the owner after the incident and inspected the vehicle. We hope that the insurance company will cover the cost of replacing the motor, as buying a new one and installing it will be expensive.”
The car continued moving on a single motor
Photos published by CarNewsChina show that part of the motor housing broke away from the underbody. The only thing holding it was an orange high-voltage cable. Presumably, this BYD Tang was a dual-motor version of the electric car. After losing the rear motor, the car was able to continue moving using only the front one.
This incident has sparked much discussion online. Users express various opinions, from criticism of assembly quality to understanding that a strong impact on the underbody could have been caused by an object hidden under the water. Owners of electric cars should be particularly careful when driving on flooded roads, as the consequences can be unpredictable. Although BYD has explained the cause, the very fact that the motor literally tore off the vehicle raises questions about the strength of the powertrain mounts. This serves as a reminder that even modern technologies are not always immune to unexpected breakdowns, especially under extreme operating conditions.
