ACMobility, an Ayala-owned automotive distributorship company, recently turned over four BYD hybrid electric units to the Ayala Foundation, the Ayala Group’s social development arm, to support its disaster response efforts. This move is in observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month, which the Philippines holds every month of July.
The vehicle donation consisted of three units of the BYD Shark 6 DM-O hybrid pickup and one unit of the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i hybrid SUV. All units have been geared with emergency equipment and tools for enhanced mobility during disaster response and relief operations.
ACMobility says that the four BYD units are part of its Q4 2024 initiative in partnership with BYD Cars Philippines, in which US$100 (around P5,755) will be donated to the Ayala Foundation for every BYD Sealion 6 DM-i unit sold from July 25 to December 31, 2024. This initiative and the ACMobility-led disaster response efforts immediately went underway right after the Sealion 6 DM-i’s launch night during the surge of Typhoon Carina.
“These vehicles are tools for hope, equipped to support fast mobilization during emergencies and help deliver aid, equipment, and relief where they’re needed most. They’re built to serve communities in times of greatest need,” said Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, CEO of ACMobility. In support of the CEO’s statement, BYD highlighted the Shark and the Sealion’s features that it sees as strengths for effective disaster response.
The Shark 6 DM-O is BYD’s entry in the hybrid and pickup segment. It’s powered by a 29.6 kWh battery and a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine acting as a generator. Its powertrain produces 435 hp and 650 Nm of torque, while its structure is capable of carrying up to 835 kg of load. The Shark 6 DM-O is also capable of towing up to 2,500 kg of weight, and is able to traverse flooded areas of up to 700 mm or 27.5 inches of water.
Meanwhile, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i SUV registers a full EV mode range of up to 105 km and a combined range of up to 1,100 km. This makes it ideal for responding to emergencies in remote areas.
Both the Shark 6 DM-O and the Sealion 6 DM-i come with V2L or Vehicle-to-Load, a feature that essentially turns them into emergency power supplies to run appliances, charge radios and smartphones, and power up lights for night rescues.
Last July, many parts of Luzon and Metro Manila were battered by typhoons that intensified the southwest monsoon or “habagat.” This brought rain and massive flooding to hundreds of areas, affecting thousands of communities. The BYD response units were put to the test.
ACMobility and BYD, with help from the Ayala Foundation, mobilized relief operations to deliver emergency goods to communities in Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City, Malabon, Navotas, Manila City, and Marikina. They’ve also deployed the Shark and Sealion units to La Union to serve as emergency power supplies in affected areas while awaiting power restoration.
