BYD Song Plus EV Survives Multiple Lightning Strikes Unscathed

[PCauto] Recently, thunderstorms have been frequent. At the Tieshangang Service Area on a highway in Beihai, Guangxi, a rare lightning strike incident occurred. A BYD Song PLUS EV, moving slowly in stormy weather, was struck directly by lightning three times in a row (some video analyses suggesting as many as five strikes). Both the vehicle and the female driver inside were unharmed.

According to witnesses, the area was experiencing severe convective weather at the time, and visible discharges were formed on the roof of the car. Ms. Li, the driver, recalled: “I heard a loud crack, as if something was pounding on the roof, but the dashboard showed that everything was normal.”

Notably, this experienced driver remained calm and, after confirming the vehicle was functioning properly, chose to continue her journey rather than risk stepping outside.

BYD’s After-Sales Team Immediately Activating a Dedicated Service Channel

A thorough inspection confirmed that the Song PLUS EV’s three core components — the battery, motor, and electronic control system — remained undamaged, with only two burn marks, each about 3 cm in diameter, left on the roof rack from the lightning strike.

BYD Service Center’s technical supervisor, Wang, explained: “The lightning strike instantly triggered the vehicle’s multi-level power cut-off protection system. The high-voltage system was isolated within 0.01 seconds, which was crucial to prevent a system short circuit.”

A Witness to the Multiple Safety Design Principles of Electric Vehicles

During a lightning strike, the classic Faraday cage effect comes into play first: the metal body forms a closed conductive structure that channels up to 200kA of lightning current safely into the ground. Dr. Chen from a Chinese automotive safety laboratory noted, “Compared to gasoline vehicles, the integrated battery pack structure of electric vehicles actually enhances this electromagnetic shielding effect.”

Additionally, BYD’s proprietary Battery Management System (BMS) detected the abnormal current and immediately cut off the high-voltage circuit, protecting the power battery pack valued at approximately 19,200 MYR.

Raised Awareness about Vehicle Safety During Extreme Weather Conditions

The local meteorological bureau in China advises that staying inside a car during thunderstorms is indeed safer than being outdoors, but recommends avoiding contact with metal parts on the dashboard and turning off non-essential electronic devices.

BYD took this opportunity to reaffirm its philosophy that “safety is the greatest luxury in electric vehicles.” The company also announced plans to offer free lightning protection inspection upgrades for all its current models.

This is not the first time Electric vehicles have proven their safety in extreme conditions. According to a 2024 report by the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), electric vehicles equipped with comprehensive high-voltage protection systems have a 17% lower accident rate than traditional gasoline cars in tropical, thunderstorm-prone climates.

In response, an optimized algorithm will be delivered through an upcoming OTA update.

As of the time of writing, the affected vehicle has completed all inspections and has been returned to its owner. The BYD engineering team is using the lightning strike data to refine the protection algorithm, with the new OTA update expected to roll out in the fourth quarter of 2025.

This unexpected event not only serves as a live demonstration of electric vehicle safety performance but also provides valuable technical insights for the industry in addressing extreme weather challenges.