Spearheading the hybrid pickup revolution

BYD Shark 6 DMO

- BY CHRIS VAN HOVEN

I must admit, I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about the BYD Shark 6. A plug-in hybrid pickup truck? It challenged my idea of what a rugged utility truck should be.

After all, electric drivetrains are still relatively new and often perceived as fragile technology. Pickup trucks are put in situations where none of its parts can afford to be fragile. In addition to this, diesel engines have been at the heart of the world's most durable and reliable trucks for over a century. It seemed to me like messing with something tried and proven would have a lower chance of success. So when BYD handed me the keys to the Shark 6 DMO, the Philippines' first plug-in hybrid electric pickup, I was eager to be proven wrong.

Over two days, I joined a convoy snaking through the busy streets of Manila, through the provincial roads of Pampanga, and Zambales, culminating in the very scenic Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem, Pangasinan. The route promised highways, narrow roads, and light off-roading, which would be a great test for a pickup claiming to redefine the segment.

Silent operator

Sliding into the Shark 6's cabin, I immediately felt a sense of tranquility that I'm not accustomed to when it comes to typical pickups. No vibrations. No diesel clatter. Only silence.