Earlier this month, a Facebook post on an unfortunate incident involving a BYD Atto 3 went viral. To recap, the EV compact crossover SUV performed an emergency braking without any prior warning while travelling along the Kajang-Cheras Highway.
After initial inspection, the problem was believed to be the 12V battery which needed replacement. However, after weeks, the owner of the BYD Atto 3 once again posted on Facebook with an update on the issue.
According him, after a thorough inspection, it was found that the problem was the sensors that are placed at the doors of the car. He further explained that technicians said that once the sensors are spoilt, it will activate safety mode, which means the hazard lights will be triggered and the EV will come to a stop immediately – in this case, within 7 seconds, as shown through a dashcam video.
The owner added that he was disappointed that the mechanism, which was meant to be a safety feature, became a dangerous factor for him and his family. Especially the fact that the Atto 3 activated the safety mode and came to a stop without warning. Despite his frustrations, he appreciated the professional actions from BYD Sime Motors to resolve the issue amicably by purchasing the vehicle back through a ‘full settlement’ with the bank.
Furthermore, this incident also has proven that electric vehicle tech is still very new to the industry as well as to the users. It is wise to take your time to understand your EV and its tech and mechanisms before purchasing them, and it is also important to know how to take care of these mechanisms in order to avoid similar mishaps.
(Source: Nur Afifah Abdul Rahim Facebook Post)
