BYD, the Chinese auto maker backed by billionaire Warren Buffett, says its BYD e6 electric car, one of which caught fire in a collision on Saturday, has passed all the tests required by the relevant authorities.
The Chinese car maker said in a statement that the batteries used by e6 electric cars have undergone abuse tests and the battery modules didn’t ignite or burn on 50% deformation, complying with Chinese standards.
The BYD e6, operating as a taxi in the southern city of Shenzhen, caught fire after being hit from behind early Saturday by a a drunk-driver in a Nissan GT-R sports car traveling at least 180 kilometers an hour (112 miles an hour), the company said. The driver and two passengers in the e6 died in the accident.
BYD said it doesn’t have access to the electric car involved in the accident as it is currently being retained by the traffic police department in Shenzhen. The company said it will cooperate with the relevant authority over the investigation.
The company “strongly believes” that the incident won’t have a negative impact on the development of new energy industry, it added.
