BYD is entering the UK commercial vehicle market with the Shark, a plug-in hybrid pick-up truck that has sports car performance and nearly 60 miles of electric-only range.
This will be the UK's second PHEV pick-up, following the petrol-electric version of the best-selling Ford Ranger - which it resoundingly beats in several key metrics on paper.
The Shark gets a combined 430bhp from its 'Super Hybrid' drivetrain, which features a four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor on each axle for four-wheel drive.
That's 153bhp more than the Ford and means the Chinese pick-up can outpace a Volkswagen Golf GTI from 0-62mph, completing the sprint in just 5.7sec.
Meanwhile, a substantial 32.2kWh underfloor battery supplies enough juice for a claimed 56 miles of EV range – more than double that of the Ranger – and can be fast-charged at speeds of up to 55kW.
Like BYD's PHEV cars, the Shark can run as either a parallel hybrid, with the engine and motors working in tandem to drive the car, or as a series hybrid, wherein the engine simply charges the battery.
BYD said the Shark's performance credentials are "far in advance of what can be achieved by traditional diesel pick-ups", highlighting its torque output of 479lb ft, WLTP-certified combined efficiency of nearly 81mpg, 2500kg towing capacity and 1200-litre load bay.
It also comes with vehicle-to-load charging functionality so can be used to run power tools and other site equipment.
As for off-road prowess, the Shark has approach and departure angles of 31deg and 19.3deg, four-wheel drive, hill descent control and a suite of driving modes including Sand, Mud, Snow and Gravel.
However, crucially, the Shark is rated to carry only 790kg in its bed, meaning it falls short of the 1000kg needed to officially qualify as a commercial vehicle, unlike the Ranger PHEV, so will not be eligible for VAT exemption for business buyers. BYD's prices start at £47,290, which is roughly in line with the Ford, but the latter would represent a 20% saving for business buyers on that basis.
The Shark will be launched in just one trim level, with faux leather seats (heated and ventilated in the front), a 10.25in digital instrument panel, a 15.6in touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, a wireless phone charger and a 360deg camera among the standard equipment.
Customer deliveries will start towards the end of the year.
