Watch: BYD's EV survives 2-ton tree drop in extreme durability test

Chinese automaker BYD recently conducted an extreme durability test on its YangWang U8 electric vehicle (EV) by dropping a nearly 2-ton royal palm tree onto the SUV’s roof multiple times. The test, held in Hainan, China, demonstrated the U8’s ability to withstand significant external pressure, with impact energies reaching up to 50.4 kilojoules—comparable to an air conditioning unit falling from a 40-story building. Despite the severe impacts, the vehicle’s interior remained undamaged, highlighting its robust structural integrity and passenger safety features. The YangWang U8 is a luxury off-road EV that incorporates advanced technologies such as the e⁴ platform, DiSus-P Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System, and Blade Batteries with Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology. It offers impressive capabilities including a plug-in hybrid system with a CLTC range of up to 1,000 km, all-terrain tank turns, tire blowout stabilization, emergency flotation