BYD has presented a new model of the premium brand Yangwang - the U8L electric car with the unusual ability to go down to the water and move on its surface. If the car gets into the water, a special emergency mode is activated, which allows the car to continue moving at a speed of up to 3 km/h for about 30 minutes.
In this way, the manufacturer positions the system as a rescue technology in case of natural disasters or road emergencies. In the video demonstration, the car looks impressive - the large electric crossover smoothly stays on the water and moves forward vigorously.
However, the presentation left more questions than answers.
Safety system: did the airbags deploy?
The footage shows the windshield badly damaged. This could indicate a serious impact before the car ended up in the water. However, visually the airbags do not appear to be deployed, which raises doubts about real-world usage scenarios. If the technology is designed for accidents, why did the passive safety not seem to work?
The practical value of the amphibious mode
Although the function is indeed unusual, a logical question arises: who needs an amphibious electric car that can only travel a kilometer and a half on water?
The U8L is a massive, expensive and heavy SUV, and its water mode is more like a marketing experiment than a useful everyday function. For real rescue situations, there are specialized vehicles that can operate in storm conditions, currents and prolonged stay in the water.
However, BYD continues to actively surprise the market with new technological capabilities, competing with Tesla and other premium brands. For the company, the U8L is a demonstration of engineering prowess and experimental features that could become the basis for future innovations.
Whether the amphibious electric car will become a new trend remains to be seen. For now, it is more of a show technology that attracts attention but has questionable practical benefits.
