YangWang U8: an SUV that is not afraid of water, stones and showrooms

The Chinese brand BYD has decided to play by the new rules. Their new sub-brand YangWang started with a trump card: the first U8 model looks not just ambitious - it is truly different. It's a new kind of SUV that doesn't chase premium gloss, but simply takes and delivers technology that sometimes seems fantastic. And you know what? It succeeds.

The YangWang U8 is already being talked about as a tank, a boat and an electric car in one. And, to be honest, this is no exaggeration. In short, this car is capable of turning on the spot, driving sideways, fording, and, if necessary, swimming for up to half an hour. But this showmanship also hides a rather serious technical base.

We remind you that you can purchase home and commercial charging stations in our online storeand also use the public charging stations ECOFACTORcharging points located throughout Ukraine. For convenient access to charging infrastructure, we recommend using our mobile applicationwhich is available on iOS and Android.

How it looks and feels

This is a big car - and there is no exaggeration here. It's massive, with clear lines and confident proportions that don't try to fool anyone. If you put it next to a G-Class or Range Rover, the difference is not only in size, but also in attitude. The U8 is longer, wider and taller, but it doesn't look clumsy. On the contrary, it has a certain thoughtfulness about it. This is not just a box on wheels, but an SUV that strikes a balance between status and practicality. Its design says: "I can do everything, but I don't need to prove it every second."

It does not get lost on the road, even among luxury cars. But it doesn't look bold either. The U8 fits seamlessly into any urban environment - in front of the Lviv Opera House, in the mountains, forest or steppe. Visually, it doesn't shout about its class, but it also doesn't try to appear simpler than it is. This is a very balanced approach that is often lacking in other Chinese SUVs.

Everything in the cabin is done at a level that was previously associated only with German premium brands. Nappa leather, pleasant-to-the-touch surfaces, the absence of unnecessary chrome details and general silence - all this creates an atmosphere in which you want to stay a little longer. When you get behind the wheel, the first impression is not "wow, what a shiny screen", but "finally, nothing cuts the eye". The devices are logically arranged, the screens don't blink, the sound isn't jarring, and the HUD projection really helps, not just takes up space.

The U8 feels expensive, but not pretentious. They didn't try to impress with an Instagram-ready interior, or insert a million RGB lights or gilding. Instead, they created an environment where comfort is not a decoration, but the norm. And this is perhaps one of the car's strongest points: it is confidently expensive, but at the same time restrained and practical.

Power that you feel immediately

The U8 is powered by four electric motors - one for each wheel. And this is not just a gimmick of engineers, but a real advantage: the traction is distributed precisely, separately for each wheel. The car doesn't stall where others get stuck. And most importantly, it does not require any special skills from the driver. You just press the gas and drive.

Acceleration to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. It's almost like a supercar, but it weighs almost 4 tonnes. This is impressive. But even more impressive is how smoothly it does it. No jerks, no discomfort - just confident acceleration.

Tank turn and sideways movement: not a joke, but real modes

This section deserves a separate emphasis. YangWang U8 can:

• turn on the spot like a tank: due to the opposite rotation of the wheels on the left and right sides
• move sideways like a crab: very useful when parking or driving between trees or stones
• wade up to 1.4 mOff-road version, with snorkel
• swimYes, to swim. In the event of an emergency, the car automatically switches to "boat mode": raises the suspension, closes the windows, switches off the engine and uses only the electric drive

These features don't look like a show at a presentation - they give the impression that this vehicle has really been prepared for serious off-road and unpredictable situations.

What about power and range?

It uses the EREV concept, a hybrid in which the internal combustion engine does not turn the wheels but only charges the battery. This combination gives up to 180 km of electric range and up to 1,000 km of total range.

It sounds cool, but what's more interesting is that even if you're somewhere in the mountains or in a village without electricity, you won't be left with nothing. You just fill up with fuel and keep driving. This is convenient because most electric cars become dead weight in such a situation.

And one more thing: it's a portable power plant

The VTL function allows the vehicle to be used as a power source. The power is enough to:

• charge laptops
• power the electric hob
• switch on the heater
• Use a drill or compressor

It's not a fiction - the power is up to 6 kW and up to 25 hours of operation. This is very cool for those who live in the countryside or travel with tents.

Security and the brain of the system

The U8 is not just equipped with state-of-the-art electronics - it's really well thought out for situations where most cars fall short. At the centre of it all is the Nvidia Drive Orin platform with 508 TOPS of processing power. It's like having a supercomputer under the hood that processes gigabytes of data in real time. The system supports L2 automation, but the sensor set hints that there is much more potential here.

The car has as many as 38 sensors. Among them:

• 3 LiDAR scanners for spatial vision even in fog or darkness
• 13 cameras monitoring the road, pedestrians and cars around
• 12 ultrasonic sensors for parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces
• 5 millimetre radar for precise distance determination to objects

But the most interesting thing is the additional bells and whistles that you won't see in most SUVs. For example, a built-in satellite phone. If you find yourself in an area without coverage, you will still be connected. Or a thermal camera - it will help you detect people or animals in the dark, even behind trees or in a field. Such details can be critical in an emergency.

In other words, security here is not just a set of features, but a comprehensive system that thinks ahead. It's not an autopilot for the sake of it, but a really useful thing that makes life easier.

How much does it cost?

The cost in China is about USD 150,000. In Ukraine, it is higher, including taxes and delivery. But in the context of what you get, the price looks justified. It's not about "buying a cheap electric car", it's about "having a tool that can really do more".

Who is YangWang U8 for?

The YangWang U8 is not a universal everyday car for city driving, although it can handle it without any problems. In fact, it is designed for those who want to have a serious reserve of capabilities for all occasions. This SUV is suitable for those who value technology, safety, comfort, and at the same time do not want to limit themselves to asphalt. If you are often out of town, go to the mountains or go on adventures, the U8 will give you the feeling that you can go almost anywhere. It will also be the choice for people who want to be independent of infrastructure: when you have satellite connectivity, the ability to power your equipment right from the car, and even drive in floating mode, the feeling of autonomy really grows. It's also an option for those who want something special, something that arouses curiosity and is unlike anything else on the road.

Charging infrastructure for cars like the YangWang U8: our approach at ECOFACTOR

At ECOFACTOR, we see how the approach to electric mobility is changing every day. Cars like the YangWang U8 are no longer just an eco-friendly alternative, but full-fledged transport solutions with power, functionality and needs that require a completely different level of support. That's why we create solutions that answer not only the question of where to charge, but also the question of how to do it conveniently, quickly and transparently.

We develop charging stations for electric vehicles independently - from idea to production. These are mobile devices, AC stations up to 44 kW and DC stations with a capacity of up to 420 kW, which are already operating throughout Ukraine. Some of them can be found through map of charging stations in our app. By the way, the app is available both on  iOSand on the Android - is a convenient way to see the charging status, activate a session, and even view session history.

For drivers of cars with the ability to power other devices - such as the YangWang U8 with VTL function - our chargers can also be useful. They support fast DC charging and can be accessed via the app without any unnecessary manipulations. We have made sure that all our stations work with the most popular protocols and connectors, as well as have a simple access system.

In our online store you will find not only the most charging stationsand all the necessary accessories: cables and adaptersholders, adapters and RFID cards. This will help you to collect everything you need in one place - without searching on third-party platforms. Everything we sell is compatible with our platform and undergoes technical control before shipment.

We are also developing a SaaS platform for operators - if you want to install a charging station in a hotel, restaurant, business centre or even a residential complex, we will help you not only with the equipment but also with setting up accounting, tariffs and reporting. This is part of our philosophy: to make the charging infrastructure logical, stable and ready for new types of electric vehicles, such as the YangWang U8.

The technologies we develop are created in Ukraine. And we believe that the charging infrastructure should keep pace with the development of the cars themselves. If SUVs that can float and turn on the spot are already appearing, it means that charging for them should be not just "somewhere in the city", but wherever they may need it. This is exactly what we are working on.

Conclusion.

YangWang U8 is not about just another trendy electric car. It's about where the idea of a car is heading. It does not play a role: it does not pretend to be a supercar, does not hide behind gloss, does not mimic a utilitarian pickup truck. It's an SUV that can be both comfortable and technically wild. You drive along the road calmly, and then, if necessary, turn around on the spot, drive into a river and swim. And at the same time, the cabin is quiet, warm and the seat massage is activated.

The U8 is not an everyday commuter for everyone. It's a car for those who want a little more than just getting from point A to point B. It's designed for conditions where things can go wrong, but you have a tool that's ready for them. At ECOFACTOR, we simply take this philosophy from a different angle - we make the charger as ready for action as the car itself.

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