Unconventional Features on Chinese Electric Vehicles

In China, electric car manufacturers are facing challenges due to declining domestic demand, uncertain export potential to Western countries, and the looming threat of reduced government subsidies for electric vehicles.

Innovation has been key for many Chinese EV brands to survive this tough environment, which has resulted in a range of electric vehicles with unusual features.

Drones

BYD’s Yangwang U8 is a particularly unique vehicle, with features such as water buoyancy and the ability to rotate on the spot. Notably, the Off-road Master Edition also comes with a drone.

The drone setup consists of a drone and three batteries, all of which are stored in a compartment on the roof of the vehicle. When activated, a camera inside the drone bay captures the entire process from battery insertion to the drone taking off from the roof.

Once ready, the user can operate the drone via a small handheld controller, with footage from the drone’s camera transmitted to the vehicle’s central display screen.

BYD offers the Yangwang U8 at a price of $150,000 for both variants, making it the most expensive electric vehicle on the Chinese market.

Multipurpose Tailgate

The Polestar 01, which debuted last year, not only attracted attention for its Land Rover Defender-like design, but also for its unique and customizable rear door.

The Polestar 01’s rear door originally only featured a storage compartment similar to those on the front doors, but users can purchase additional upgrades to transform this area into a fold-out table or a compact kitchen unit for camping.

The manufacturer also offers a rooftop tent for the Polestar 01. While rooftop tents are not uncommon, it is rare for automakers to offer them.

The Polestar 01 utilizes a hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with two electric motors, resulting in 469 horsepower and 740 Nm of torque. Similar to the latest Honda CR-V, the gasoline engine in the Polestar 01 only serves as a generator for the electric motors. The Polestar 01 retails for $48,700 in China.

Bed Mode in Seconds

With the touch of a button on the Xpeng G9’s screen, both rows of seats can be folded down into a flat surface, creating enough space for two people to lie down comfortably. The Chinese automaker also offers an optional air mattress that fits perfectly into the G9’s interior.

This feature was developed by Xpeng in response to the growing popularity of camping in China. Bloomberg believes that the air mattress and flat-folding seats are particularly useful for situations like waiting at public charging stations or during prolonged traffic jams.

The Xpeng G9 was unveiled in September 2022 as the brand’s second SUV and largest vehicle. Depending on the variant, the G9 offers rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with a range of 354 to 436 miles.

The vehicle is equipped with an 800-volt battery system that supports charging speeds of up to 480 kW—the fastest charging rate in the world. The Xpeng G9 starts at $43,000, with the most expensive variant priced at $66,000.