Can the BYD e6's massive battery compensate for its brick like aerodynamics?
One of the most well known for its large 82 kWh battery is the BYD e6. But the vehicle's boxy design has been likened to having 'the aerodynamics of a biscuit tin'. This leads to an interesting trade off between battery capacity and efficiency. First, the large battery gives a lot of energy reserve, and the peace of mind that can come with that for long trips. Poor aerodynamics, however, mean that a large portion of that energy is being used fighting air resistance, particularly at highway speeds. It also questions the vehicle's overall efficiency and whether BYD's use of a larger battery to mask poor aerodynamics is a good design choice or a band aid to a core problem.
I honestly think that BYD made the right move. The e6 isn’t winning any beauty contests, but that big battery means you don’t have to worry about range all the time. It is a solution to the real world.
This is no way, it's just lazy engineering. Instead of slapping a huge battery in it they should have focused on making it aerodynamic. You might as well put a jet engine on a brick and call it efficient.
I can say from experience of the long trips I’ve done in an e6 the big battery is a life saver. Yes, it’s not the most energy efficient, but the peace of mind is worth it.
Here I think we're missing the point. The e6 was conceived as a taxi where stop and go city driving is more important than highway efficiency. That’s why the big battery makes sense in that context.
It's a trade-off, for sure. Just remember: Aerodynamics only matter at high speeds. The brick shape is less of an issue for city driving, which is what most people do. And that shape offers you a ton of interior space, too.
The e6 isn’t trying to be a Tesla, let’s be real. As a workhorse EV, the big battery is more important than slippery aero. It’s about reliability and predictability, not winning efficiency awards.
In fact, I like that BYD preferred to focus on battery size rather than aerodynamics. They are showing that they are thinking about real world use and not just chasing numbers on a spec sheet.
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