First Drive: BYD's Shark PHEV Pickup Truck

[Biker16]

 

[Rick73]

Interesting design for sure, especially the FWD engine part combined with RWD electric; for a truck that is.  Other vehicles have used this approach but I’m not aware of any pickups to date.  What is most interesting to me is that it “may” not use a “normal” transmission at all, but rather an all-electric series engine-driven layout.  I would love to see more information on powertrain.  Sounds like engine may be able to power front wheels directly similar to Honda hybrids.

 

https://www.autoblog.com/features/byd-shark-phev-pickup-truck-heads-to-mexico
 

“The truck is conventional in the sense that it has a body-on-frame chassis with a longitudinally-mounted engine; in this case a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder (though BYD doesn't explicitly state whether it's a gas or diesel engine on its consumer site). But it starts differing from there. It has double-wishbone independent suspension at all four corners. And the engine is only coupled to the front motor, with a separate motor providing drive power for the rear. It seems it operates generally like a series hybrid, though it's possible the engine can provide some direct power for the front axle if needed. Front unit output is rated at 228 horsepower, and the rear at 201 horsepower, and BYD combines those for 430 horsepower total output. BYD also estimates a run to 62 mph at 5.7 seconds.“

 

[Rick73]

My Spanish is a little rusty, but the Mexican BYD Website has some interesting additional information I can make out.

 

Front power is 170 kW and torque 310 N-m.  Rear motor is 150 kW and 340 N-m.  Maximum combined power is shown as 430 HP, which is 320 kW.

 

Maximum towing is listed at 2,500 kg, or 5,500 pounds.  Not bad for plug-in electric mid-size pickup.

 

I like that truck has exportable electrical power similar to Ford’s Pro Power Onboard.  BYD shows it being used for camping as an example.  With 29.6 kWh battery capacity, it could power an RV air conditioner all through night without pickup’s engine having to start.  That could be really useful when camping where generators are not allowed except a couple of hours during day.  Obviously during power outages also.  I could not find what the exportable power rating is, but I’m sure it’s plenty for camping or power tools on job site.  Picture says “a power station anywhere at any time” if I’m reading correctly.