A video circulating online in China shows a Fangchengbao Bao 8 driving along a public road with one wheel lifted off the ground. A wheel clamp appears to be attached to that wheel. The roughly 20-second clip shows the SUV pulling away from a curb and moving among other road users, with its hazard lights on throughout. The footage has raised concerns about the risk of using the system in traffic, as well as speculation over whether the scene was genuine or promotional.
The Bao 8, known as the Denza B8 outside China, was previously demonstrated driving on three wheels at a test track in May. BYD says the SUV’s DiSus-P Ultra hydraulic suspension can keep one wheel raised by as much as 300 millimeters while the vehicle travels at up to 15 km/h. The system’s maximum lifting capacity is stated as nine metric tons.
BYD’s cited use cases include helping the vehicle escape when a wheel is stuck in deep sand or mud, and lifting the SUV to change a flat tire without a jack. The company says it can raise the vehicle in one minute. The public-road clip applies that capability in an unusual situation, but the source does not confirm who recorded it or whether the demonstration was staged.