WHY the BYD Shark 6 FAILED our hill climb test

Last week we published our BYD Shark 6 detailed review and we had a LOT of comments about the BYD Shark's inability to climb our pretty basic gravel hill. We went investigating and have come back with a few reasons why the vehicle may have failed our hill climb.

Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
Drive modes: 01:12
Gear ratios: 03:41
Top speed: 08:45
Outro: 09:59

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CarExpert:

Paul Maric:

#byd #shark #review

[LSFBC]

It's rare that permission is asked to reuse one of my analysis videos but in this case it was and you all need to know how rare that is in this industry, so huge kudos to CarExpert for acting ethically and I'm happy that my theoretical analysis turned out to be correct. As Paul says it is a pre-prod car. I hope to get a production car and do the testing required to determine exactly what the limits are and what they mean in practice for 4x4 owners. The BYD Shark has huge potential to perform...but only if the software is programmed appropriately.

For those talking about the Ecotricity NZ review - Gavin used momentum to ascend the hill therefore reducing the torque requirement quite a bit. I did ask and got permission to use his video in one of mine too!

[lammiwinks]

The amount of crazy comments you got from the pre order crowd was wild. Good on you Paul for staying honest!

[ericlin]

BYD has provided an OTA software upgrade to offer a new driving model call "power crawl", and the problem is solved. It is amazing how electric cars can solve major problems by just upgrading software.

[yissibiiyte]

It may not be the best off-road ute, but let's be honest that doesn't matter to the majority of ute buyers.

[GearUpind]

We need more YouTubers which aren’t paid and transparent if they are paid videos like car expert.

[Vturbo]

If trades can tailgate in it, that's all they need.

[davidnelson]

And this why you are one of the vest! Thank you, Paul, for another brilliant video.

[henvan]

Paul the one thing being over looked is that, Electric vehicle max torque occurs at 1 rpm. Max Torque in a diesel occurs at around 1500rpm. So a gear deduction system is definitely required to overcome this. I believe Torque vectoring in the early Shark software may be part of the issue.

[dmaskell]

The shark should have waltzed up it. There’s something in the traction control which was freaking out and stopping it. Electric has maximum torque from a stand still. It’s just a flat line graph on electric motors

[jdelgadocr]

I'll love to have a BYD Shark. The only thing that doesn't resonates with me is the term "pre-production car". While it just has been launched in AU, the car was globally launched and SOLD in Mexico since May and recently other markets. I understand BYD (or any other brand) can tweak/adjust for specific terrains before launching a model. However, a hill, a swamp or any other terrain is pretty much the same around the globe. Tweaking (an existing model in production) for terrains in an specific country sounds to me like some sort of marketing gimmick/scheme from the car industry. I see a comment here about an recent OTA update adding a new terrain mode which sounds like BYD is paying attention to the market and providing solutions. That's great!!!

[osx]

Amazing explanation. Really love the way you present.

[icollidge]

Excellent explanation Paul, i have ordered one, but know there will be compromises, i dont need it to climb 30 degrees plus, i need it to get my family camping on the beach and to get me to work again on monday. Having owned a GU and GQ Patrol and an 80 series LandCruiser, i can honestly say the shark will be plenty for my needs. My kids don't want to go rock crawling, and nor do i anymore. Moreton and K'Gari will be the most extreme terrain my shark will see.

[ben]

With a boat you're stuck on the ramp.
With a builder's trailer you're stuck on the steep block.
It's a deal breaking oversight.

[haiting]

Dont worry, BYD in China already added a new drive mode called "Max Force" mode in China on some of their SUV's which allow maximum torque at 2km/hr low speed without wheel spin when climbing up slope. I'm sure this will be available on the Shark.

[lenjones]

Torque is directly proportional to current in electric motors, so if the battery was charged and no excessive current limiting mode on the inrush current was invoked, you would think there would be more than enough torque on tap to drive the vehicle from hill stop. I would think the mode the car was in would have a lot to do with the torque available, sport mode would made available more inrush current I would have thought.

[jonathanrashleigh]

Quite funny as just watched BYD techs get the shark up that exact hill with ease. And they made a point of stopping on the way up. Guess it just depends who is behind the wheel.

[johnbentley]

I think your final comment is spot on ‘let’s wait for the production release’ I think release of preproduction, engineering prototypes may be a symptom of the new ‘on going software development culture ‘ we’ll just update it ! Releasing too early just creates confusion … wouldn’t have happened in Ford in the 1980/90s. Let’s see. As an aside what impact do off road tyres at the right pressures have in a test like this versus the standard tyre package?

[xiaoabrose]

Same issue with all single speed electric motor systems. It's a design "feature". You should test them pulling a heavy boat out of water up a boat ramp. Frankly, that's a serious real world use. They definitely need a crawl gear, or a starting clutch, but adds cost and weight. They might need even both to really do well.

[tim]

Love how Paul is busting out his old engineering hat for this one! This was similar to what I commented in the first review - that rear electric motor has to do all the work on open diffs with such a heavy car. Will need some adjustments by BYD but seems doable.

Very good video in the reference too, L2SFBC knows his stuff!

[BennyTheWoo]

Good work mate, well explained, and those of us considering our first electrically propelled car since our 1980's Tamiya RC will understand that relative reduction and lack of torque from idle when you put a SPEED pinion on the 540 motor :p