BYD’s 3,000-hp EV crashes at about 280 mph — Watch the driver escape unharmed — SkimNews
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- Yangwang U9 Xtreme struck a guardrail and continued spinning during the third high-speed run while attempting to exceed 450 km/h (280 mph), following runs above 350 and 420 km/h.
- BYD said a comprehensive medical exam found the driver in good health with no serious injuries following the crash.
- The carbon-fiber cabin held up despite substantial front and rear damage to the Yangwang U9 Xtreme.
- Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 457.89 km/h (284.5 mph) on the next run after the collision.
- BYD was preparing another attempt this month to surpass 500 km/h (310 mph), after the Yangwang U9 reached 496.22 km/h (308 mph) and became the world’s fastest production car last year.
- Jiang Gong, one of Yangwang’s riders, said he believed the Yangwang U9 Xtreme had the leeway to break 500 km/h (310 mph).
- e4 platform underpins the Yangwang U9 Xtreme’s quad-motor setup, which BYD said was the world’s first rated at 30,000 rpm and produces nearly 3,000 hp (3,000 PS); the car also uses the world’s first mass-produced 1,200V ultra-high-voltage platform.
Why it matters: The material update is what followed the crash: the driver passed a comprehensive medical exam with no serious injuries, and the same car then reached 457.89 km/h (284.5 mph). For BYD, the 500 km/h (310 mph) pursuit remained active, with driver and cabin protection documented.
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