Electric Car Sub 35k, BYD Han

nightqueen on 11/04/2021 - 14:26

https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/cars-bikes-and-boats/fin…

A Sydney-based company claims it will soon launch an electric car in Australia that smashes the $35,000 barrier.

That would make it substantially cheaper than any BEV, or battery electric vehicle, ever sold here, though the brand – BYD – is unknown to most Australians, and sales will be online only.

Described as a VW Golf-sized hatchback, the BYD too is built in China, by an ambitious Shenzhen-headquartered car maker which has engaged a raft of top European designers and engineers, including former Audi design head Wolfgang Egger. It will be priced “well and truly sub-$35,000” in Australia according to Luke Todd, CEO of the importer, TrueGreen Mobility.

Speaking from a hotel in China, where he is in quarantine pending the unveiling of the new model at the Auto Shanghai motor show, Mr Todd said it would reach Australian customers in the first quarter of next year, with pre-orders taken from July.

BYD (it stands for Build Your Dreams) has a car-making heritage that goes back to 1987. It saw its shares rise by more than 300 per cent last year, benefiting Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, which has an 8.2 per cent stake.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/2021-byd-han-electric-…

The Han has a claimed 100km/h sprint time of just 3.9 seconds, and a claimed range of just over 600km.

Under the skin is the BYD Blade Battery, which uses a unique cell layout to allow for greater power density and better prevent thermal runaway if the pack is pierced.

Unlike the batteries used in Tesla vehicles (and most mainstream rivals), the BYD range uses lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) technology.

At sub 35k, is this getting close to the price parity of not buying an ICE corolla or Camry and getting a 35k BYD EV?

Automotive

Comments

  • shaybisc on 11/04/2021 - 14:32
    +5

    600km range for under 35k? I am extremely skeptical but I'll have one if close to true.

    • Kangal on 11/04/2021 - 15:48
      +2

      Yeah, normally companies post decent or impressive stats like 3.9sec acceleration, 195km/h top speed, 600km range, and even the $35,000 price. It seems good in theory. What you get in-practice, is more like 4.5sec acceleration, 160km/h top speed, 380km range, and price is $39,000 after-rebates. It happens way more often than we care for.

      Still it raises an interesting question:
      What do you think a successful B-EV car requires?
      (price, range, acceleration, size, features)

      • Kangal on 11/04/2021 - 16:43
        +2

        My 2c:
        A very successful B-EV car (as in market-mover) is going to be less of an "iPhone" and more of a "Redmi". Where Apple has tremendous sales, and has the highest profit margins… they still only ship about 20% of total sales. I think a (new competitor) company from China will mass produce and sell the most EVs in the coming years. The type of car will be very cheap ~$25k USD worldwide, will be very simple (no special features or build apart from AA/CarPlay), will have acceptable overall quality (no major recalls), openly boast about its 10-Year Warranty, will be relatively safe (airbags, ABS), won't accelerate that fast (7sec 0-100), have a very limited 50kWh battery but acceptable range (+300km city driving with AC On) for most owners: urban/metro/city drivers… and will have a "slow" (20kW) fast-charger that will get you from 20% depleted to 80% charged under 90mins, or slow-charge overnight under 8hrs, unfortunately won't support +50kW Super-Fast-Charging which could fully charge it under an hour. It would look quite like the MG 3, a simple and humble hatchback, good enough for most drivers, with questionable quality and cheap plastics everywhere.

      • Euphemistic on 12/04/2021 - 08:34

        What you get in-practice, is more like 4.5sec acceleration, 160km/h top speed, 380km range

        Which is still pretty good. Plenty fast enough, range is more than enough for city commuting when you charge every couple of days. Might be pushing the range out on rural highways, but there aren’t a lot of golf sized vehicles bought for country driving.

        Even at $39k it’s Pretty close to Corolla plus 5yr of fuel pricing.

        • Kangal on 12/04/2021 - 10:55
          +1

          Exactly.
          It's good enough for +80% of drivers, so it's good enough to be a market-mover. My only concern is the price. It would be awesome getting this at the U$25k/A$35k price, without any rebates.

          Price is what's concerning me the most. I have a lot of skepticism that it won't happen. It "feels" like it would actually be USD$35k with rebates… so probably be a $50k car in Australia which would be mostly a failure.

          • Euphemistic on 12/04/2021 - 11:28

            @Kangal: I haven’t seen to many of the $43k MG EV on the road. Plenty of Tesla, hardly and Kona.

            Price is a big barrier.

  • Ryk on 11/04/2021 - 14:40
    +1

    The electric BYD taxis in Shenzen are a great ride.

  • jayz on 11/04/2021 - 14:48
    +1

    Tesla already uses LFP

  • User2049 on 11/04/2021 - 15:04
    +1

    If this is remotely close to the truth it will be amazing.

  • plmko on 11/04/2021 - 15:34

    So basically a $25k US car? Yeah nah….tell'em they're dreamin

  • SF3 on 11/04/2021 - 15:49
    -4

    is built in China

    Hope it’s doesn’t self ignite when you charge it like those electric bikes and scooters… 🙄

  • WreckTangle on 11/04/2021 - 16:41

    Linked story is behind a paywall

    Edit: op has summarised. Thanks.

  • User2049 on 11/04/2021 - 16:54

    I wonder if the $35,000 price tag will be for the hybrid model?

  • Snake 4 on 11/04/2021 - 16:58

    600k range is worked out like the kilometer per litre sticker on a vehicle windscreen. It's BS.

    Try diving from where I live at the foot of the Blue Mountains to Brisbane via the Putty rd and New England hwy with one charging stop. My guess is three 30 minute charging stops and that's without having a 20 to 30 minutes wait for the charge points to be vacant.

    I do one 12 minute stop for fuel in my 4WD with a 69 litre tank.

  • pegaxs on 11/04/2021 - 17:11
    +1

    The $35k version will be an entry level shitter and then it will be;

    "Oh, you want 3.9s to 100km/h, you'll need the performance pack… Oh, and 600km range? You'll need the range package. You want an a/c, radio and steering wheel buttons, that's in the luxury pack… You said you'd like reverse camera, blind spot mirrors, lane guidance and radar cruise… Yes, that's in the safety package…"

    And boom, next thing you know, the car you actually want is their $63k car + on-roads + GST + LCT +++…

    I don't care for the 100km/h sprint and I don't want 600km of range. I just want an EV car that I can use to get me to and from work each day for about a week, the odd short round trip down the highway to the next city and accelerate about as quick as a typical 2~3lt ICE car can and have plenty of tech features over drag racing modes and endless range they keep wanting me to accept.

    • DingoBilly on 11/04/2021 - 18:16
      +1

      So… you want the base package BYD car is what you're saying? Weird to complain about a base model then say it's basicslly exactly what you want.

      • pegaxs on 11/04/2021 - 22:21

        No, what I am saying is that electric car companies need to stop trying so hard with building long haul, traffic light to traffic light dragsters that cost a kidney and a left testicle to buy because of the size of the battery and motors required.

        If the BYD base model comes out and is $35k~ish drive away (which it won’t be) and I don’t have to start buying this “extras” pack or that “features” pack to get the features I can get standard on an equivalent Corolla Hybrid, then I’m sold. Been keeping an eye on BYD for a while and keen to see them come into the Australian market.

        What I don’t want to do is pay $10’s of thousands extra for range that I might use once every 3 months or less, and for acceleration that just isn’t required for normal driving. I would rather they spent less on “range and acceleration” and more on “safety and features”.

        • Euphemistic on 12/04/2021 - 08:43
          +1

          Totally agree. Companies have spent a lot getting premium prices for ‘premium’ motoring with early adopters who have cash and who expect bells and whistles.

          It’s time to build a bare bones, budget commuter electric vehicle. I don’t need self driving, radar cruise, lane keeper and all those tricks. Just effective AC, comfortable, practical seating. I only need the performance of a corolla from about 20years ago and a range of 300km would be stacks, 200 would suffice. My current vehicle usually gets a tank of fuel at 2-3 weeks and it covers 600km on a tank. When you leave the driveway every morning with a full charge, you generally don’t need a lot of range.

        • md333 on 12/04/2021 - 19:07

          Well they started with cheap no frills short range cars, and failed miserably because they still cost $70k.
          Tesla had much better success trying to build a car with an image and spec to match the price tag.

          Now everyone seems to be following that path, when actually the costs are coming down to the point where a lower range car could be competitive with ICE. Hope it happens soon.

          They've got the Dacia Spring now in Europe, wonder how it is selling.

          https://www.caradvice.com.au/933744/2021-dacia-spring-ev-eur…

          Article makes a big deal of the 0-100kph time, but the i-MiEV is similar and actually has no performance problem because EVs are so smooth and quiet you can use 100% of the performance all the time.

          • tonyjzx on 02/12/2021 - 23:35
            +1

            @md333: This is one thing I hate about Tesla. The Falcon doors. The Plaid.

            Problem is base features and safety apparently isnt enough to sell a car.

            Every car is safe. Every car has all the base doodads you need.

            So most companies think you need a whole bunch of USP (unique selling points) to make EVs sexy and cost $60k.

            I think people say they dont want range but I look at it like this… I dont want to charge it every day.

            Further I think its a dumb argument. The reality seems to be that most companies have settled on the 300km to 600km as what consumers want.

            Here's a good example. Why isnt Nissan selling the Spring here? It has something like 160km?

            The reason is most car companies cant make enough money selling cheap shitboxes. That's the facts.

            if a friggin' Hundai shit base i30 is $27k then wheres the margin for a $37k SUV EV with 300km range? There isnt a business case as yet.

            edit: also not having a go at MD333, its just the shit ass way this forum sets replies.

  • jsrz18 on 11/04/2021 - 21:06

    interesting. Would still buy the ICE equivalent over the next 10 or so years. Though I'd seriously consider the BYD or a similar electric variant car in the 2030s.

    • nightqueen on 11/04/2021 - 22:19

      Even if there was an oil crisis and unleaded went up past 2 dollars a litre for a year?

      • jsrz18 on 12/04/2021 - 08:06

        I mean I could consider it but not sure. I don't drive as much as the average person and I change my car every 12-15 years. So the next time I buy a car will be around 2035 which like I said will most probably be an electric one. I would expect the price to be past $2 per litre in 2035 as well.

        • Kangal on 12/04/2021 - 11:04

          You don't need an oil crisis for the prices to change. There's a consortium of very wealthy corporations that together regulate oil prices. Sounds like a monopoly? Yes, it is, but they have the power and people are okay paying the premiums.

          As soon as EV's get mass adoption, watch the sector closely.

          • nightqueen on 12/04/2021 - 11:51

            @Kangal: Doesn't that mean OPEC cartel will work together to jack up oil prices in their favour and increase profits? And that means higher petrol prices and a deterrent to have an ICE car

        • nightqueen on 12/04/2021 - 11:52

          yes in 10 years time, if petrol is past $2 dollars per litre, electric recharging is going to be more affordable especially with free charging at home if one has solar panels.

          • Kangal on 12/04/2021 - 12:10

            @nightqueen: I guess the dream is to own your home outright, have the roof mostly solar panels, have one big power-wall battery inverter, and drive a full BEV car. Maybe have two cars; one hatch for city driving, and one Ute for long-distance/rural driving.

            That way you can drive as you like, keep electricity as you need, and sell back to the grid when you want. But the powers that be are making that dream much harder/expensive to achieve.

  • nephilim on 12/04/2021 - 00:05

    35k is what the renault zoe should of been

  • mechx on 12/04/2021 - 02:24

    im interested in the suv model TANG.

  • WreckTangle on 02/12/2021 - 15:20

    BYD is currently building a Sydney showroom https://www.drive.com.au/news/byd-electric-car-showroom-to-o…

  • tonyjzx on 04/12/2021 - 16:40

    https://electrek.co/2021/12/02/toyota-partners-byd-affordabl…

    this is what needs to be done

    if they have a new badge… "BYD by Toyota"

    and they can build a 300km Corolla for $30k then they've already won.

    "The new electric vehicle will reportedly be slightly bigger than the Toyota Corolla and sell for less than under 200,000 yuan ($30,000). "

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