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At Munro & Associates, we specialize in teardown analysis to uncover what makes—or breaks—a vehicle’s design. In this review, we examine the Skywell EV underbody, revealing how cost-driven choices shape its engineering. The Skywell, sold under the Imperium brand and sourced from China, is an electric vehicle aimed at consumers who prioritize affordability and comfort over performance. After letting the vehicle sit untouched for years, we finally tore it down—and what we found tells a story of value engineering, shortcuts, and surprising cleverness.
Designed to Be Driven, Not Admired
The Skywell is a no-frills EV with one job: get you from point A to point B, reliably and inexpensively. This model, purchased by Munro at the LA Auto Show for just $37,000, represents an alternative to flashier, high-performance EVs. While its 150 kW motor (about 200 horsepower) makes it sluggish by modern EV standards—clocking in a 0-60 mph time in the 7–8 second range—it compensates with a surprisingly comfortable and quiet ride.
What makes this vehicle intriguing is how it handles cost-cutting without falling apart. Most of its engineering choices are function-first, performance-last. And for the buyer who doesn’t care about fast acceleration or complex features, that may be a perfect match.
Underbody Analysis: Simplicity Over Sophistication
Looking beneath the skin, the Skywell’s underbody reflects its budget positioning. The lower cradle is stamped and welded steel, with no advanced crash structures beyond what’s legally required in China. The suspension is basic: all steel components and cast knuckles, many of which show rust from sitting idle for years. That said, the crash management approach does leverage a smart EV advantage—designing the EDU to drop beneath the cradle during an impact, creating extra crush space.
There’s also no active grille shutter (AGS) system, meaning zero dollars spent on aerodynamic optimization up front. That absence hurts efficiency, especially for an EV, but again aligns with the vehicle’s low-cost strategy.
A BYD Drivetrain in Budget Clothing
The electric drive unit (EDU) is supplied by BYD and, while serviceable, lacks the innovation seen in newer units. The use of extruded stator housings, which is falling out of favor in newer EVs, points to slightly outdated design practices. Die castings on both sides handle the gearbox and mounting, with an air compressor affixed to the side. It’s a capable drivetrain—but not a cutting-edge one.
Battery Pack: Cost-Conscious and Clever
The battery pack, estimated at 72 kWh, might also be a BYD component. Its construction uses extruded aluminum side rails that double as structural members. Munro engineers noted clever machining to reduce weight and cost without sacrificing integrity. At the bottom, a rubberized coating—possibly for stone-chip sound damping—suggests NVH concerns were addressed with low-cost methods.
However, the battery’s underbody coverage is inconsistent. Only the front aero panels are covered; the rest is open, exposing critical components and reducing potential aerodynamic benefits. Adding molded shields could improve range at minimal cost—a classic missed opportunity. At Munro, we’ve run cost-benefit cases showing such tooling investments pay off in efficiency gains.
Rear Suspension: Quirky but Serviceable
The rear suspension uses a surprisingly short trailing link and a very basic upper control arm—just a flat steel plate welded to bushing cans. It’s crude but functional. Again, the design avoids complexity in favor of manufacturability and cost savings.
Some twist-stamped sections and subframe parts show signs of rushed or simplistic design, with the whole rear subframe giving off a “good enough” vibe. The rust buildup, even without road use, raises flags about Skywell’s e-coating process—something more refined OEMs typically master.
Interior Over Exterior: Where the Money Went
Despite its spartan underbody, the Skywell surprises with a plush interior. According to Sandy Munro, it reminds him of the comfortable cars of his youth—soft materials, quiet ride, smooth suspension. Money was clearly spent where customers notice it: chrome accents, LED lighting, and soft touch surfaces.
This makes sense. For Skywell’s target buyer, appearance and ride comfort trump torque vectoring or aluminum control arms. The result is a vehicle that feels premium inside, while hiding the budget engineering beneath.
Easy to Service, Easy to Understand
One notable upside of the Skywell’s simple construction is its accessibility. The underbody layout provides ample space for service and maintenance—more like a classic ICE vehicle than a tightly packed EV. Engineers can easily reach major components without fuss, making this EV friendly for future aftermarket service.
Even the battery box welds show thoughtful execution. Munro’s team praised the TIG welds around the battery’s extruded frame sections. Using machined notches and smart symmetrical geometry, Skywell achieved a structurally sound and easily manufacturable pack.
European Entry and Future Potential
Interestingly, this same vehicle is now being sold in Europe under a different name—“BOW”—through rebranding efforts. Skywell had originally expressed interest in U.S. sales back in 2021, but regulatory hurdles likely delayed those plans.
Given its affordability, comfort, and reliability potential, the Skywell could still find a niche in markets where basic, long-range EVs are in demand—such as Mexico, where Munro staff reported seeing the car frequently. If OEMs overlook this category, Skywell’s formula might fill the gap.
Final Thoughts: A Smart Use of Less
The Skywell EV underbody analysis shows that minimalism can work—when it’s thoughtful. This isn’t a high-performance vehicle. It’s a practical, low-cost commuter that avoids flashy tech in favor of tried-and-true engineering. That doesn’t excuse its oversights, like poor aero treatment or dated drivetrain design. But it does underscore the clever tradeoffs made to hit a price point.
For engineers and analysts, it’s a reminder that sometimes “underwhelming” can also mean “smart.” And while it may not win drag races, the Skywell might just win over the customer who wants reliability and comfort without breaking the bank.
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