Chinese car manufacturer BYD’s new all-terrain circuit is the first of its kind in China, and it’s pretty wild. It’s more than a test track. The complex is essentially a playground for electric vehicles with indoor dunes, ice fields, off-road mountains, and high-speed racetracks. It even has a pool. It shouldn’t be open only to BYD personnel.
After officially opening its new all-terrain circuit in Zhengzhou last Thursday, BYD said it’s “breaking the barriers of traditional racing tracks with subversive innovation.”
The site features eight unique zones: An indoor dune, a low-friction ring, a kick-plate, a wading pool, a dynamic paddock, a race track, an off-road mountain park, and a camping area.
BYD’s press release says it’s the first of its kind in China, specifically dedicated to its new energy vehicles (NEVs). After it stopped producing fully gas-powered vehicles in 2022, the company has focused on all-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles.
Dune, pool, or kick-plate
The indoor dune is not just massive, it’s record-breaking big. It was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s highest and largest car testing facility, featuring a 29.6-meter vertical drop and a 28-degree slope.
Another eye-catcher is the 70-meter-long wade pool, exclusively built for the Yangwang U8. If you haven’t seen it yet, the U8 can float on water. It features an emergency flotation feature that enables it to float on water for about 30 minutes.
And then there’s the kick-plate. It’s a circuit that allows drivers to test vehicles in emergencies, such as loss of control on icy or wet road conditions. BYD built the low-friction circle, China’s first 44-meter-diameter circular track, to test drifting with “a constant friction coefficient between that of ice and snow”.
It consists of 30,000 smoothed basalt bricks with 3 mm of water covering the surface. BYD is using it to showcase its DiSus Intelligent Body Control System and, of course, to give everyone the chance to drift.
On the race track or off-road
When you’re done drifting, you can head over to the 1,758-meter race track. You can take off on the 550-meter acceleration section or try your luck on nine extreme corners.
The 15,300-square-meter dynamic paddock features over 12 different immersive scenarios to showcase BYD’s full range of innovative technology, including moose testing and automated parking.
With 27 off-road scenarios, BYD says drivers of all levels, beginner to advanced, can have the opportunity to drive on various rugged terrains.
Not just for professional testing
This is the first of several circuits BYD plans to open. New locations in Hefei and Shaoxing are set to open soon. The Shoaxing off-road area will be massive, spanning 2,000 acres with an altitude of 500 meters.
According to BYD, “By making cutting-edge technologies, professional facilities, and extreme scenarios tangible and accessible, the circuits aim to break down barriers, serving both as a showcase for NEV innovations and a bridge to popularize NEV culture.”
It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Europe and other global markets to have a few of these, also, so drivers can experience the advantages of driving electric vehicles. The persistent reticence of many people toward EVs could also be alleviated by allowing them to experience the capabilities of an EV in more adventurous situations.
Until now, most of the testing areas of manufacturers resemble Fort Knox, and potential onlookers are seen as the big enemy. Of course, manufacturers aren’t expected to give all their secrets away before they’ve even tested them privately. Still, the idea of having interested potential customers learn about the possibilities of your vehicles looks like a self-evident case.
