BYD EA1 targeting sub-$30K start price, bigger battery for Oz
A small electric Chinese hatchback from BYD could soon be on sale in Australia priced from less than $30,000 – and it will come with a bigger battery and longer EV range than the cars already revealed overseas.
Initially known as the BYD EA1 but set to be called Dolphin in China, the new five-door hatch will adopt a different name for Australia where it plans to shake up the entry point of the new-car market.
Initially planned to make an appearance within months, the Australian arrival of the new five-door hatch has been pushed back to late 2022, according to BYD importer Nexport.
“We’ve had to modify a few of our plans and timings but it’s been to ensure that we’re bringing the best vehicles to Australia at the right time,” said Nexport managing director Luke Todd. “I’m even more confident now on the product range.”
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The EA1 that was scheduled to be the first BYD is now expected to be the third, behind the Yuan Plus SUV and Han sports sedan, each due in the first half of 2022.
That leaves the EA1 – set to be the most affordable in the BYD lineup – for later in the year.
While the Yuan Plus – a family SUV that straddles the compact and medium categories – is seen as a big volume player, the EA1 is planned to add spice to the entry-level market segment.
At 4070mm long, 1770mm wide and 1570mm tall its dimensions are similar to those of the entry-level five-door hatch market, including the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2.
Fresh details and images have revealed a basic but stylish five-door with a long wheelbase (2700mm, at least 100mm more than many popular five-door hatches), something that usually translates to good interior space.
The EA1/Dolphin is available with various battery and drivetrain configurations. All use a single motor powering the front wheels, but BYD has initially confirmed two battery capacities from 30.7kWh to 44.9kWh.
Both battery capacities can be paired with a 70kW/180Nm motor while the larger battery can also be had with a 130kW/290Nm motor that brings slicker acceleration.
However, Todd says the EA1s sold in Australia will get a bigger battery again, although he wouldn’t detail what capacity.
“There’s a third [yet-to-be-announced] option, which has an even longer range,” Todd told EVcentral. “We’re evaluating bringing the longer range [version].”
He said the move to go bigger on batteries was all about reducing the excuses for avoiding an electric car.
“Our view is in Australia any EV must have a minimum – even for city running – of 400km to be accepted in the Australian market.
“All of our vehicles will have at least a 400km range … our target is 500km-plus.”
As well as some vibrant colours, the EA1/Dolphin looks to have a decent technology injection for a compact hatch, with a digital instrument cluster and centre touchscreen.
As for pricing, Todd wouldn’t be drawn on an exact figure, other than to confirm the EA1 would “potentially” sell below $30,000.
Asked whether that was the target, he quickly answered “yes”.
Considering the shift in prices for city hatchbacks in Australia – the Toyota Yaris now starts at $23,740 plus on-road costs, while the Mazda2 is $24,490 for an auto, plus costs – it could make the EA1 something of an EV surprise at the lower end of the market.
While it’s unlikely to undercut either of those Japanese heavy hitters in the hatchback market, the EA1 would likely have the promise of lower running costs as an added appeal.
EVs typically cost about half as much to run as a petrol equivalent, with lower energy costs and lower servicing costs.
However, the big unknown is what appetite there will be for EVs at the more affordable end of the market, especially with a brand almost no Australians have heard of. Sub-$30K cars are typically very sensitive to price, although as Toyota has proven with its hybrid models, lower running costs can offset a price premium.
As for servicing, Nexport says it will soon announce more details on how that will be performed in Australia.
The importer is planning an online sales model but with a collaboration with an existing partner to provide warranty and servicing backup.
“We have a package in play that’s going to be launched very shortly that will comfortably … be beyond customer expectations,” said Todd.
He also said the company would be using connectivity to monitor cars and in some instances pro-actively inform owners if imminent work is required.
“We’re using technology very wisely to provide a better customer outcome.”
Well this is very disappointing news for those Australians hanging out to order a BYD EA1/ Dolphin which originally could have been ordered on July 1st the revised to early 2022 and Now revised again by Like Todd to late 2022 according to the news found in this article. It does not inspire confidence in the Nexport, the BYD importer as the goal post keeps getting shifted.
I think we generally just have to live with the fact that in Australia there will be launches on a regular basis and most likely of the same vehicles, with availability being shifted again and again….Ace EV comes to mind, as well as HX2 and a few other ones. Not uncommon in Australia to over-promise and under-deliver.
Nexport at least has vehicles that are proven in other markets and the recent changes in Australia to the Road Vehicle Standards, might make it actually easier, if vehicles will have international Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA).
Did I mention , that right hand drive does not help getting vehicles here….
I agree, this clearly means that BYD Corporate PR is not resourced professionally. Contracting out is bad when you hear from a distributor, Nextport in this case, not from a Corporate BYD executive, and you get news like this.
BYD clearly needs to understand that to build expectations about release dates, then to change them in a major way, isn’t good.
A lot of people will be disappointed with yet another push back on the release date for the BYD EA1 on Australia.
Realistically, the delay is probably due to the global semiconductor shortage. Plenty of companies are having trouble with that, and I can’t blame BYD for avoiding opening new markets when they’re probably struggling to supply the existing ones.
On the bright side, that hopefully means that the EA1 will have been available in China for over a year by the time it turns up here, and they’ll have found and fixed most of the problems (to be expected in a completely new design).
What I’d really like is to get a couple of demonstrator vehicles here to evaluate things like headroom and legroom. Of course, with COVID ongoing, having a thousand people cycling through your demo car isn’t going to be a good thing…
Byd make their own semiconductors and just about everything that goes into their Ev’s. I would say the delay in Australia getting the Dolphin is down to 2 things. 1. The demand for the Dolphin in China will see all manufacturing slots used to meet the demand. 2. Australian Dolphins will be fitted with a long range battery with a range between 450 to 500km. This battery still needs to be developed and implemented into the Dolphins vehicle footprint.
I thought they made their own semi conductors, that they are more vertically integrated than even Tesla.
The issue of revising release dates is not that good, but I guess that the confidence it cam bring is not to rush things.
The last thing you want is a lemon rushed to the market , a car that rattles, whose claimed range is much less that specified, or a car whose infotainment is difficult to pair to the phone, the screens are slow to respond and confusing. BYD will , in such an informed digital global village will not want the fallout from that. It would be infectious.
BYD would to wide to provide in the first instance a realistic date , even a later one than they truly think they can beat , but then deliver on that earlier, rather than this poor look, it is.
Covid is causing major shortages of components , and perhaps even available labour. BYD are probably “ all over the place “. with everything, but in these cases, it is wise to shore up your
resources in Corporate PR too, in the times we are in we hope they are listening , and will use head office PR staff to make announcements where there are significant delays .
It’s just PR on the cheap to outsource this to a distributor
So a big opportunity for the Ora Good Cat which is a little more expensive if it can get to Market early 2022. The RHD version will be made in October this year.
Very sorry to find out the EA1 is not coming to Australia until at least another year 🙁
Wish it had bottle holders in the front and rear doors.
Can see a grey piece of plastic under the armrest with electric window button.
Would be a perfect spot to put them, same as a Toyota Yaris for example.