BYD Dolphin gets its third version homologated
The BYD Dolphin is one of the most expected electric cars this year for its great value for money.
We already saw the specs of the two first versions that will soon be delivered in China, but now a third version got homologated by the MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology).
Let’s see the first two homologated versions to then compare to the third version.
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
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
And now the recently homologated third version.
BYD Dolphin third version
- Length: 4.150 mm
- Wheelbase: 2.700 mm
- Width: 1.770 mm
- Height: 1.570 mm
- Gross vehicle weight: 1.825 kg (with passengers and cargo)
- Curb weight: 1.450 kg (empty vehicle)
- Motor: 65 kW (130 kW peak)
- Max speed: 160 km/h
- Battery chemistry: LFP (LiFePO4) Blade battery by BYD
This new version is faster, heavier, longer and has larger wheels than the previous. However, range and battery capacity aren’t known yet. This can be either a sports variant or the global version to be sold worldwide.
Since the weight only increased by 45 kg, this is not the 500 km NEDC range version that I still expect to arrive later this year.
Anyway, the BYD Dolphin will have its first units delivered in China next month with a price range between 110.000 and 130.000 yuan (14.463 and 17.093 euros). As for foreign markets, in Australia first deliveries are scheduled only for early next year, then Europe is next.
I’m still curious about the fast charging rates…
More info:
Thanks Pedro: Are we still going to use 11 kWh/100 km. This was a measure used liquid fuels with liters / 100 km which itself was illogical.
Unit of distance is km and unit of electricity is kWh, so why not we use km / kWh like 7 km / kWh.
Cant we make the change going forward with electric transport.
That’s how official WLTP ratings show consumption figures. But I think you’re right, distance per kWh makes more sense.
Woudn’t distance per kWh take us back to the “Ilusion of Miles per Gallon” articles of the last 15 years?: linear vs non-linear scales.
its just like km/h.
miles / gallon is used only in usa and not in any other country.
goodness europeans use km/h for speed and not hours / 100 km.
Europe uses l/100km and kWh/100km as they are fuel/energy consumption metrics. Using mpg, km/l or km/kWh gets you a fuel/energy economy metric. Search for articles about the “illusion of mpg” to get information about the problems this brings.
Pedro: Thanks for the acknowledgement, many countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan use km/l.
Are there any good highway tests on this car? How much of range does it loose on a HW? I am interested how efficient are BYD cars.
Not yet.
I got excited, but at just 45kg heavier I don’t think the battery pack will be any larger. Disappointing!
Lately, it seems to me that Chinese competition in electric vehicles will not be such a problem for EU carmakers. This vehicle is a typical example. For the EU market, this is not a revolutionary vehicle, both in terms of parameters and, above all, price. From my point of view, a 30 kWh battery for a vehicle with a wheelbase of 2700 mm is ridiculous even if it costs 10,000 euros. 45 kWh for such a small vehicle as a standard range will be ok, but still the price 17,000 euro is not revolutionary. VW already shows that they can produce vehicle with similar parameters and price.
At that price point the best alternative we have in Europe right now is the – also made in China – overpriced Dacia Spring with its ridiculous motor, battery and charging speed.
If the BYD Dolphin arrives in Europe costing below 20.000 euros with a WLTP range of 300 km and a decent fast charging speed it’ll be revolutionary.
The fast charging rate is where BYD might screw up, it needs to be at least a constant 2 C and ideally 3 C.
For the EU market, this car at below 20.000 euros will be more than revolutionary. Volkswagen had only one car below 30.000 euros, the e-Up, but it was an obsolete model and discontinued it. The only car in Europe below 20.000 euros is the Dacia Spring, but it’s performance is not that great. I bought a Spring in Romania in December for only 8.000 euros after state subsidies, and at that price it has no competition right now.