TO THIS DAY, there isn’t a pill to cure range anxiety on a pure EV.
I might have found it two weeks ago, labeled as BYD Atto 3. This medication comes at a price of only P1.598 M for the Standard Range Dynamic which tops up at about 420 kms range.
The cars we tested for this BGC to Baguio run and back cost P1.798M and are called the Extended Range Premium which can go up to claimed 480 kilometers on a single charge.
Since there is no medicine against range anxiety, engineers will prescribe controlling it by distance and power available. The packaging in any EV however, does not indicate that, when it comes to beating range anxiety, it really isn’t the assurance of a full charge on the battery or the just the route on needs to take. It requires excellent navigation skills and a vehicle efficient enough to take its range to the fullest and finding some way to “gas up” while on the drive.
For this test drive, BYD invited a couple of media people and content creators, creating teams that were unlikely in the real world.
BGC meet up
No, the soggy morning air at the parking lot beside AC Centrale didn’t crackle with anticipation. Neither was I going to be behind the wheel of the Atto 3 at the get go. Early on, discovering who I was going to drive with, I decided that they would do most the driving, and I, all the snoring.
“They” were Kyle Liong, a rising car content creator from a channel at bears his name, and Carlos Miguel Divino of YugaAuto.com. (edited, thanks Carlos) Despite my playful attempt to test these Ateneans’ knowledge with my “deep Tagalog,” and history of everything in Philippine motoring since 1992, these young petrolheads were pretty impressive themselves.
Their enthusiasm for cars, both classic and electric, was infectious, and their driving skills equally commendable. Event organizer George Ramirez kept saying that EVs have this characteristic of “filling up with gas” in the way that no internal combustion car can.
Once can say that, all EVs made today, except the trikes, bikes and scooters, have some sort of regenerative energy capablity. BYD’s Atto 3, seems to have dialed in most of what is needed to balance speed, performance, exhilaration and battery life.
And the battery–the much maligned part of any EV–scary for fires and explosions, seems to have found redemption in BYD’s Blade Battery. The Blade is an engineering marvel. A simple yet effective innovation in design with a lot of focus on safety, range, and longevity.
It uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery which is inherently more stable, making it less prone to thermal runaway, a dangerous condition where batteries overheat and catch fire. It also uses the Cell-to-Pack (CTP) Technology eliminating unnecessary modules within the battery pack. This simplifies the structure and reduces the number of potential failure points, enhancing overall safety.
And to both scare the wits out of us and then be reassured after, BYD’s new Senior Manager Mikko David presented a video of the Nail Penetration Test a rigorous industry standard which the Blade Battery passed with A++ rating. While a traditional lithium-ion battery would emit flames and smoke under such a test, the Blade Battery remains stable with minimal temperature increase.
I think more than any technology in the Atto 3, or any EV for that matter, the Blade Battery is the most congruent to safety, at such a level very few EVs can match. The test drive proved that the BYD’s CTP technology allows for more efficient packing of battery cells, leading to a higher energy density compared to traditional LFP batteries. This translates to a longer driving range for electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with the Blade Battery.
This same high power density delivers excellent power output, enabling rapid acceleration and strong performance. BYD claims the Blade Battery offers exceptional durability.
One thing it hasn’t done, it to make EVs noisier.
As we navigated the light BGC traffic, the Atto 3’s peppy electric motor purred silently. The instant torque provided a thrilling surge of acceleration when needed, and the regenerative braking system cleverly recaptured energy during deceleration. This efficiency was crucial, especially considering our ambitious single-charge goal.
The climb ahead
The real test arrived on the relentless climb towards Baguio. Here, maintaining a steady pace proved key. The car’s helpful real-time energy consumption display became our constant companion, a transparent window into the remaining battery life. Thankfully, the Atto 3 held its own. The climb, which could easily drain an EV’s battery, barely fazed this efficient machine.
A quick stopover at the Shell Mobility station in La Union wasn’t entirely necessary, with the battery still comfortably above 40 percent. But it provided a valuable lesson. The fast-charging station, with its 180kW DC ultra-rapid charger, could theoretically boost the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. However, the process itself wasn’t seamless yet, highlighting the need for further infrastructure development.
Refreshed and with a newfound appreciation for the growing network of charging stations, we continued our journey. The scenic beauty of the mountains unfolded before us, a constant reminder of the environmental benefits of electric travel. Unlike traditional gasoline cars, the Atto 3 left behind no trail of emissions, allowing us to experience the fresh mountain air in its purest form.
Pulling into Baguio City with a surprising 23 percent battery remaining was a sweet victory. This trip had not only conquered the fear of range anxiety but also revealed the true potential of electric vehicles for long-distance travel. The Atto 3’s impressive range, combined with strategic planning and the growing network of charging stations, painted a bright picture of a future where electric road trips are not just feasible but truly enjoyable.
The silent hum of the electric motor, the absence of tailpipe emissions, and the car’s advanced driver-assistance features all contributed to a relaxed and guilt-free journey. This experience, shared with the next generation of car enthusiasts, solidified my belief that electric vehicles are more than just a passing trend — they are the future of sustainable and exciting road trips.
What’s not on print:
It’s the driving, not the battery
So, the question I posed to my two young gentlemen companions, was not would “can we go the distance without running out of battery?” but “can we try to run out of battery before we get to Baguio?”
Now both Kyle and Carlos were old enough to be my children. But like my children they probably weren’t listening to me.
I thought I could push some kind of parental fascism on them to drive aggressively and with some calculated recklessness just to zap the batteries. To my surprise (dismay) they drove diligently and with discipline without expressions of rage against a) idiots with driver’s licenses and b) tricycles who cannot understand “pace” and “right side of the road.”
Throughout the drive they exhibited typical Ignatian discipline. That is, “drive in your best behavior, whether or not someone is looking.”
From the get-go Kyle would often times push the EV with youthful abandon. I realized then that this wasn’t at all misplaced abandon. It was just because the car had enough gusto to deliver.
So when I got behind the wheel, I had to act manly and fatherly, disciplined and in form. But I did have a mission. To spend as much power as I could without going over the speed limit. Since braking caused regeneration, I did little of that. I also was heavy on the pedal just to make sure I consumed as much power as I could in the 54-kilometers I was to cover.
Mission accomplished. We were at 33 percent when we reached Shell La Union. I expected that going up the mountain we’d stall. But we didn’t. We had a 10 percent recharge but I calculated (with my poor math) that the drive up the mountain would be a big stress on the BYD’s Blade battery.
All these thoughts proved to be as credible as a political propagandist and troll. The BYD Atto 3 dissed all the misinformation in my head and confirmed that this fear is largely unfounded, especially with thoughtful planning.
The way down
The next day, on the way down via the ziggy and zaggy Asin—Nangalisan—San Pascual Road, the drive was spirited. Kyle took the steering wheel first, pushing the car and the Chao Yang tires (we’d call it Yang Chao rice tires later) to its squeal-ish fullness. We felt the sidewalls were a bit bouncy even if the grip was just right.
That part of the road was fun. By the way the Asin route used to be part of the rail service from La Union to Baguio eons ago. It had two tunnels just enough for a car to pass. Today is listed by the DPWH as a major road to the Benguet province.
Stage two on the ride back was mostly straight and Carlos took reins. I noticed though that they hijacked the route book and driver switchover to make sure I had to boring and straight roads. At first I felt gypped but recalled that I should be doing more sleeping than driving. So I arrested that thought.
The kids are alright
I am putting it in writing that Kyle and Carlos impressed me not only withe their driving skills but more so with the honesty and collaboration. They worked with different content creator outlets but they shared and exchanged information like they were in the same outfit. It wasn’t the case in my day, of breaking news and secrets.
A huge plus is that these young gentlemen had access to many cars even before they decided to make it a profession they actually don’t need. They had enough moolah in their coffers to buy cars if a test review wasn’t available. And they owned far better vehicles than any they are test driving so far.
I learned a lot with my 8 hours with them on the road–valuable lessons for a veteran like me, as well as technical exchanges which felt more like engineering discussions. We decided with no contest, that it isn’t the vehicle itself, nor is it the battery. It is the efficiency by which the battery is used, a well-planned route (including landmarks along the way) which means hoodwinks, and non-thinkers should not drive an EV.
One last note. Kyle’s playlist had songs from my generation. I asked him why, he said “why not?” Carlos on the other hand played songs Korean, Japanese and electronic, which I was familiar to, because of my children. Basically, gamer’s music, I guess. So in between the lack of engine noise of the Atto 3, we were able to bond with the atmosphere.
At the end of the journey, I had gained a lot of respect for both of them. And if they were reflective of the new generation of motoring content creators and journalists, it was good. Really good.
So good that I found myself humming, Pete Townsend’s “The Kids Are Alright.” (Which was not on Kyle’s playlist.)
