BYD batteries not to blame for EV fatalities


Chinese automaker's batteries are ruled out as the cause of car crash fatalities in Shenzhen.

Shenzhen, a bustling border town and special economic zone, exonerated BYD Co. in a recent court hearing, ruling that the automaker's battery pack was not to blame for a deadly car crash which killed three people in an electric taxi.

A panel of 13 experts found that, whilst the pack did indeed catch fire, the passengers involved suffered severe head trauma and did not die as a direct result of the flames.

BYD's electric taxis are commonplace in Shenzhen, where the Warren Buffet-backed automaker is headquartered. In February, the city announced plans to add 1500 pure electric K9 buses and E6 taxis to its fleet as it strived to meet growing environmental targets set by the government.