BYD Dolphin: range and battery capacity exposed
We finally know the exact figures of range and battery capacity for the BYD Dolphin, thanks to recent documents published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Let’s see those figures.
BYD Dolphin standard range version
- Length: 4.070/4.125 mm
- Wheelbase: 2.700 mm
- Width: 1.770 mm
- Height: 1.570 mm
- Gross vehicle weight: 1.660 kg (with passengers and cargo)
- Curb weight: 1.285 kg (empty vehicle)
- Motor: 70 kW and 180 N.m of torque
- Max speed: 150 km/h
- Battery capacity: 30,72 kWh
- Battery energy density: 140 Wh/kg
- Battery chemistry: LFP (LiFePO4) Blade battery by BYD
- Range: 301 km (NEDC), roughly 225 km in WLTP
- Consumption: 10,3 kWh/100 km (NEDC), roughly 13,7 kWh/100 km in WLTP
The standard range version will probably be available only in the domestic market.
BYD Dolphin longer range version
- Length: 4.070/4.125 mm
- Wheelbase: 2.700 mm
- Width: 1.770 mm
- Height: 1.570 mm
- Gross vehicle weight: 1.780 kg (with passengers and cargo)
- Curb weight: 1.405 kg (empty vehicle)
- Motor: 70 kW and 180 N.m of torque
- Max speed: 150 km/h
- Battery capacity: 44,928 kWh
- Battery energy density: 140 Wh/kg
- Battery chemistry: LFP (LiFePO4) Blade battery by BYD
- Range: 405 km (NEDC), roughly 300 km in WLTP
- Consumption: 11 kWh/100 km (NEDC), roughly 14,7 kWh/100 km in WLTP
Unfortunately the ranges are lower than what was previously expected. I was expecting that the first two versions to become available would already come with NEDC ranges around 400 and 500 km. Nonetheless, I believe that a third version will arrive later with more range and faster acceleration – aimed for foreign markets.
First deliveries to Australian customers are scheduled for early next year. Will they get the 405 km NEDC range version, or an upcoming version with more range will be already available by then?
Anyway, I think that without a NEDC range around 500 km – and 400 km in WLTP – the BYD Dolphin needs to be priced similarly to the Dacia Spring – below 20.000 euros – to convince European customers.
What do you think? Could a version with a NEDC range of 405 km become popular globally if priced correctly? Or a version with more range is essential for a global success?
Thanks Tyler Sanders for the heads up.
More info:
https://www.evlook.com/news-40008.html
https://www.miit.gov.cn/zwgk/zcwj/wjfb/gg/art/2021/art_3d10a295b06442c9919e49930be932bc.html
Did you post this from the email I sent you?
Yes, thanks.
I didn’t know it was you, your email was anonymous.
On the ordering platform in Australia, not that we can order yet, it is stating a range of 500km for the EA1/Dolphin. I think that will be a 500km NEDC range as the listed information for the specifications for the BYD T3 van is in NEDC range format.
Thanks Peter. That makes sense, 500 km of NEDC range is very reasonable for the global market.
Probably going to be a lot of Trim levels on this car.
Hey Tyler, I have heard it will possibly be sold in 3 trim levels in Australia, base, mid-model, and sports probably with the full body kit, I think we should know for sure on the 30th of July, if not beforehand.
I really hope we get a larger size than 45kwh (55kwh or more) for an affordable price! 45kwh the range is too small for Australia
This looks like a much better offering than a Dacia Spring. With a 800V archetype, this should have rapid charging times.
altough the platform has 800v architecture, it is not completely certain these vehicles will include it… they would have to take lots of cells in series with lower capacity (ah) to reach the 800v (@3,2v around 240 to 260 cells)…this must really be very thin (blade 🙂 ) to be able to fit the car….
Anyone already has confirmation that any of these 2 options(or the third for Australia market with bigger battery) will in fact be 800v?!
Im surprised by weight. Seems high compared to Dacia spring.
I agree, for an unknown brand in Europe and 300km wltp, it needs to be properly cheap to convince. Less than 20k.
If it was 400km wltp they could ask up to 25k
It has at least 30cm more wheelbase and length…. it is definetely a bigger car than the Dacia.
If Sodium cells came come though then we get cheap ev’s with better range
I’d buy the longer range (300km wltp) version for 20k (after taxes)
Seems the standard range starts at 100.000 RMB / US $ 15.500 which is affordable for a crossover of that size and 301 km range (NEDC).
If their govt reduces the subsidies, they will reduce the price as well.
Huh! All that previous hype about a 600km range.The beast has to have a minimum range of 500 km before I’ll consider purchase. Furthermore, no self-respecting Brit would be be seen driving a car with t h a t name stretched across its rear. They’ll have to shorten it to just BYD. What interests me most about its arrival here in the UK is how well it will perform in our tough NCAP crash tests and what motoring journalists make of it in road reviews.
An excellent warranty will also be needed for Europeans to have confidence in the reliability of Chinese electric cars.
In South America BYD electric cars have a 8 years or 500.000 km warranty for the batteries.
https://bydauto.com.co/garantias/
80% of BYD sales in 2021-06 are BEV + PHEV, which saw a 190% increase while the petromobiles saw 50% decrease. I guess their NEV share will increase when Dolphin launches.
Time for the company to wind down the petromobiles and go fully electric.
Disapointing specs in the Battery energy density. O were expecting better vales From the Blade Battery.
Important feature is still missing information – charging. For fast charging for Europe to go with CHAdeMO would be unwise. Having anything less than a stable (till 80%) 50 kW power (like Lexus, Honda and Mazda are doing) is not desirable. For AC it should be Type 2 and preferably 11 kW. I hate when a new EV is announced with 7 or less kW.
Yawn. Doesn’t even come close to the Zoe 50 specs. As usual this China sponsored and China loving blog was hyping this car as the second coming of Jesus.
You got me, Chinese automakers are paying me to advertise their cheapest electric cars, when they aren’t even available to buy in Europe and North America – where most of my readers live. Really smart decision on their part…
Leapmotor pays me 1.000 euros every time they sell a T03 in Europe and Hozon Auto pays me 2.000 euros for every NETA V sold in the USA. I’m already a billionaire 😉
If there is something that I will never do is sponsored or access journalism.
Access journalism is very easy to do. I would just need to write nice things about legacy carmakers to get invited to their events all over the world with everything paid for… I know how it works.
Instead, I write about affordable Chinese electric cars because almost no one is doing it. If you want to read about electric cars for rich only you have a lot alternatives out there.
You won’t see me wasting time on Chinese automakers that sell huge and expensive electric cars like Li Auto.
I’m interested in electric cars that most people can afford and unfortunately only the Chinese automakers have them now.
By the way, the global version of this electric car will have more range and performance. The specs in this article are for the Chinese market only.
Why try to deflect? In the main site banner you have Sheng-something chinese bike sponsorship, under it and also center right there are chinese battery sponsorships and if I scroll a bit lower under the article, there’s a Morec banner with western country flags but if I click it redirects to Aliexpress.
Stefan I don’t understand what’s the problem with those products. I try to only recommend products that are relevant to my readers, I really don’t care about the nationality of the seller.
Shengmilo has ebikes with great value for money.
MOREC has good EVSEs that are also very affordable.
BLS has affordable LiFePO4 batteries that are very good.
DOKIO has great portable solar panels that are very affordable.
Moreover, all those sellers have warehouses around the world – that’s why you see those flags…
Any company with good affordable products and an affiliate program that I can join is free to contact me. Unfortunately I couldn’t find one yet.
Instead of normal ads from big advertising networks, I prefer to use affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and buy something, I might get a small commission. It doesn’t cost you extra and keeps this website running without an avalanche of annoying ads.
By the way, I would earn a lot more recommending expensive products, since commissions are paid in percentage. Instead, the products I recommend are the ones with the best value for money.
I wished that there were many European companies selling affordable electric cars, EVSEs, eBikes, solar panels and batteries that I could recommend. Unfortunately there aren’t, at least not yet.
Anyway, if you know better products that worth recommending I’m all ears. My loyalty is to my readers, not sellers.
Please keep publishing about lower cost EVs that will make it to Australia. Currently our cheapest EV is $45k which is still well outside of the average reach.
Ive found your website very helpful for info on BYD Dolphin, which I’m hoping will be my first EV. The Aussie distributor hasn’t given much info yet so anything news is good news!
Thanks, I will.
You don’t even need to justify anything, but I loved your answer 🙂
Please keep your line, it’s what makes this site a really good source of information.
Your work is highly appreciated.
Obrigado 🙂
Do you think the 30 and 45kwh packs are the usable figures (I.e the 45kwh option is usable and it is actually a 50kwh pack like the T3 van)?
My thoughts are the packs sizes are very small… I was hoping for a bigger improvement on what is in the market currently (I.e more than a Zoe so ~55kwh).
It will be a bad move to bring the 30kwh model to Australia – our cities are very spread out and we have few chargers. Even the 45kwh model, if it is $35k + on road costs will be a fairly hard sell (as it has a similar range to the leaf), and BYD is a new brand here. They need to make an excellent value proposition for their first launch.
i personally hope there is a third longer range model that is for export to Australia… something with 55kwh+. If so, it will be a much better deal and they’ll sell a heap.
The battery figures are for total capacity.
Yes, I also think that a 55 kWh battery for a WLTP range around 400 km is what makes sense for a global version in 2022. We’ll see when Nexport releases more information later this year.
Yep, ~55kwh will show the real advantages of the blade (i.e. better than the Zoe 50, comparable to the id3).
45kwh is a hard sell for a brand new brand in Australia. Assuming thats the $35k model (if its 30kwh it’ll fail), it’s good but won’t be enough to convince enough people to open their wallet.
It looks like BYD has also some room in improving efficiency of the car. I hope OEMs will start focusing on that as well: motor, drag, tyres, reducing moving parts,…
When is the BYD Dolphin going into production in China?
Going on sale in China in September
Now it’s the 18th of August