BYD Yuan Plus is almost ready for launch
The BYD Yuan Plus is expected to become available to order in China already next month with a price between 130.000 and 160.000 yuan (17.106 and 21.054 euros).
This is the second electric car built on the new BYD e-platform 3.0 and if you think that the BYD Dolphin is too small, this might be the right electric car for you.
Initially, this electric car will be available in two range versions, let’s see them in detail.
BYD Yuan Plus standard version
- Length: 4.455 mm
- Wheelbase: 2.720 mm
- Width: 1.875 mm
- Height: 1.615 mm
- Gross vehicle weight: 1.990 kg (with passengers and cargo)
- Curb weight: 1.615 kg (empty vehicle)
- Motor: 150 kW and 310 N.m of torque
- Max speed: 160 km/h
- Battery capacity: 50,12 kWh
- Battery weight: 358 kg
- Battery energy density: 140 Wh/kg
- Battery chemistry: LFP (LiFePO4) Blade battery by BYD
- Range: 430 km (CLTC), 400 km (NEDC) and 320 km in WLTP
- Consumption: 12,2 kWh/100 km (CLTC)
- MIIT code: BYD7003BEVA
BYD Yuan Plus long range version
- Length: 4.455 mm
- Wheelbase: 2.720 mm
- Width: 1.875 mm
- Height: 1.615 mm
- Gross vehicle weight: 2.065 kg (with passengers and cargo)
- Curb weight: 1.690 kg (empty vehicle)
- Motor: 150 kW and 310 N.m of torque
- Max speed: 160 km/h
- Battery capacity: 60,48 kWh
- Battery weight: 402 kg
- Battery energy density: 150 Wh/kg
- Battery chemistry: LFP (LiFePO4) Blade battery by BYD
- Range: 510 km (CLTC), 480 km (NEDC) and 420 km in WLTP
- Consumption: 12,5 kWh/100 km (CLTC)
- MIIT code: BYD7003BEVA1
Curiously, the wheelbase is only 20 mm longer than in the smaller BYD Dolphin.
It’s good to see that with the 60 kWh battery version the energy density reaches 150 Wh/kg and only weighs 44 kg more than the 50 kWh version, which is pretty good for the cobalt-free chemistry LFP (LiFePO4).
Considering that the kWh cost of the BYD Blade batteries is already at 55 euros, it seems to be a no-brainer for BYD to push the 60 kWh version in more affordable models.
Moreover, this 60 kWh battery is the one that I want to see in a global version of the Dolphin. What do you think? How much would you be willing to pay for the extra 15 kWh in the BYD Dolphin?
Anyway, the BYD Yuan Plus is smaller than the Volkswagen ID.4, but larger than the Kia e-Niro. Australians and Europeans will have to wait until early next year to get this impressive electric car.
BYD Yuan Plus front and rear
Finally, I’m curious about the fast charging speed. The TMS (thermal management system) of BYD Blade batteries seems extremely good, but BYD is currently being conservative with the C-rates. Maybe, it’s because the automaker prefers to limit the fast charging rates and offer a great battery warranty instead?!
BYD usually offers an awesome battery warranty for its all-electric cars in foreign markets, for example in South America it’s 500.000 km or 8 years.
What do you think? Which electric car of the new BYD e-platform 3.0 do you prefer, the Dolphin or the Yuan Plus? Is the 60 kWh battery capacity the sweet spot for affordable electric cars? What do you prioritize, a faster charging or a more generous battery warranty?
More info:
https://carnewschina.com/2021/07/14/byd-yuan-plus-approval-documents-submitted/
https://autonews.gasgoo.com/70018536.html
https://www.miit.gov.cn/zwgk/zcwj/wjfb/gg/art/2021/art_d2e13cc07e8c418694fe916283fff832.html
Some comments/questions:
a) If I remember correctly, Blade cells can be manufactured with different heights. This might be the reason why at only 20 mm extra wheelbase, this taller vehicle itself accommodates a taller battery. Meaning we might not see a 60 kWh battery for the smaller Dolphin. Hope I’m wrong, of course.
b) Why does the longer range version with only an extra 10 kWh have 150 Wh/kg pack gravimetric energy density instead of the 140 Wh/kg of the shorter range one? Why should the GCTPR vary this much (IMO), especially considering that the pack energy density is already so close to the 166 Wh/kg of the cells?
c) Does BYD use (pressurized) air for its TMS?
d) From what I could gather, BYD’s Blade batteries have terminals on their long ends. Given that the 4680 cell from Tesla uses the folded current collectors at the top and bottom for cooling purposes, why has BYD not done the same for the easier prismatic form factor and located the cell-wide terminals at the top and bottom of the cell? I would imagine that the even higher VCTPR (from eliminating the gap between Blade cells for cooling) and faster charge rate would make this an attractive design consideration.
Thats it! It even looks very good.
I still hope that European carmakers, and in particular VW, will finally stop inventing bullshits and ID.2 will get the same batteries, charging rate and motors as ID.3, ie 48 kWh and 62 kWh @ 100kW charging. And especially ID.2 models from the Škoda-Auto will cost with bigger 62 kWh battery up to 25.000 Euros.
Why did they ditch the recessed door handles? A bit slack design there – more wind resistance!
Otherwise, the 60kwh model seems much more suitable to Australia’s distances than the Dolphin. We still don’t have many chargers, cities sprawl, and spaces between towns is large (where many people drive to at least 1-2 a year for holidays).
I worry that this SUV will be expensive by the time it reaches Australia’s shores, but if it is very cheap I think I’d buy this.
I’d pay up to a ~$3k premium on the Dolphin for an extra 10-15kwh. I really want the cheapest and most compact car, for the most range. A 44kwh battery won’t be enough to convince me to buy as a drive long distances on holdiays.
Pedro – maybe the ‘adventure/Off road’ variant of the EA1 will have a larger pack?
I’d definitely consider buying the longer range if it was available in Canada and if it’s cheaper than the ID.4. It would have to have a heat pump, heated seats, and towing capability as well. I’d also like to see good charging rates (100kw+) if it’s going to be competitive with the other EVs I’d be considering. My main concern would probably be about winter range.
Overall though, this looks like a winner, especially for Europe and Asia. The design seems ok enough, but the specs and price are really a winning combo. It’s the same length as a Leaf and an e-Niro, but 50mm taller and 70mm wider, so it looks like it might have quite a bit more interior space.
I hope they can make tons of these.
The EA1 has heat pump as standard in all models, and apparently means it’s significantly more efficient in winter. I assume it’ll be the same for the Yuan Plus
100% prefer the Dolphin…
It is also safe to say BYD has achieved price parity with ICE…
Love the fact that the Dolphin has skinny 16″ tires and the Yuan also has skinny tires which will create a lot less plastic particalate matter in the air streams and drinking water unlike other high performance luxury BEVs that have HUGE tires to handle the excessive additional power at a much larger cost to the enviorment as they unfortanetly have ~3 times more plastic emissions into the earths drinking water for all…
Hopefully they roll out both world wide and cause many tears for the less green auto makers…
Isn’t 380 km WLTP a bit poor for a 60 kWh battery? The e-Niro gets 455 out of 64 kWh and the Kona even gets 490-ish
The WLTP ratings are just my estimations.
Moreover, the total battery capacity of the e-Niro and Kona Electric is around 67,5 kWh.
It’s also a known fact that the Korean electric cars are extremely efficient, if BYD gets close it’s great.
Kia e-Niro: 15,9 kWh/100 km
BYD Yuan Plus: 16,7 kWh/100 km (my estimation)
The Dolphin with the 60 kWh battery and faster charging would be my choice. If Tesla has managed to make a LFP Model 3 with high charging speed, so others can. Design wise I think the Yuan is a nice looking SUV.
I would buy the Yuan plus over the Dolphin here in Australia if its reasonably priced and well equipped with all the safety tech possible. The Yuan Plus in meant to arrive in Australia in late 2021. The EA1/ Dolphin has had its release date in Australia pushed back to 2022.
Slightly higher range for longrange Dolphin would be nice. 50 – 100 KW chargingspeed also. But will be wishful thinking I guess.
BYD sales in china last month
BEVs: 24,996 (up 139% year-over-year)
PHEVs: 25,061 (up 651% year-over-year)
Total plugins: 50,057
Other vehicles: 6,918
So plugins are grabbing share from petro-mobiles. Hope they gain share from petro-mobiles of other makes as well. I guess its already happening as plugin vehicle sales hit 15% market share. But how much of all this impact is because of covid & chip shortage is not known. May be from 2022-01, clear picture should emerge.
In china where low speed EV with < 100 km are common and wuling miniev with 120-170 km NEDC range is a hot star, this BYD crossover with 430 km & 510 km NEDC is more than enough for many families.
Selling 3 BEVs with decent range instead of 2 BEVs with long range. Objective is to move many people to BEVs.
china last month sold 231.000 plugins for 15% share. among them, 80% are BEVs with the other 20% PHEV. New models like changan benni, leapmotor t03, letin Mango has entered top-20 for 1st time. All these models are affordably priced.
If sales of these models hit the level of wuling miniev, then sales will increase further.
Friends: Please watch the Tesla AI Day presentation. Mind boggling Hardware, Software …
They called only tech guys.
No MSM since they know only horsepower, cylinders, burning petrol.
Yuan plus I have small cars Honda jazz for almost 15 years. Sick of small car. Wanna go bigger
please give us drive specs on your reviews. is it FWD RWD or AWD?
Front wheel drive.
When does the Yuan Plus go on sale in China?
You’ve got a knack for simplifying complex topics, bravo!
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