BYD has officially confirmed all the details of its all-new electric car , which it called the BYD Dolphin, which we initially knew by its codename “BYD EA1”. BYD Dolphin has recently entered Chinese showrooms. An Australian company will launch it in the Australian market, and we have not received a response from the Europe agent about the date of its launch in the market.
Dolphin was designed by Wolfgang Egger, former head of Audi design and now global design director for BYD.
The small electric hatchback, the first BYD model to adopt “nautical design concepts”, also bears a new logo for the first time.
The new Chinese electric car has a sporty side and rear body, but with a strange face.
On the other hand, the interior design is characterized by a streamlined and streamlined design, and a large central touch screen in a horizontal orientation that can be adjusted in its direction.
The cabin has more than 20 storage spaces, and the trunk can accommodate four 20-inch bags.
Some have described it as not just a car, but a tool for future mobility in the city.
It’s compact, modern, and individualized.
It’s a new architecture for electric mobility, and only these three lines define the shape.
Is it really unique?
Wolfgang Egger Design Director of BYD
Wheelsboy YouTube channel made a show showing BYD Dolphin from the outside, and came up with an interesting light design, especially the taillights, and these artistic looking taillights are inspired by Chinese handicrafts.
The 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels are also inspired by the 20-inch Sanya wheels of the Volkswagen ID.3.
Inside, the cylinder head and physical controls on the center console have caught the attention of YouTubers.
In fact, it is this rotating disc panel that takes on most of the functions, while the white/black and orange sports seats make the cabin very attractive and the design director seems to be targeting youngsters with his new car.
BYD Dolphin eStarPro
At the Auto Guangzhou 2021, BYD showcased several special edition models with custom exterior design to lure the audience into the booth.
One of the cars on display was the ‘BYD Dolphin esStarPro’, a modified version of the BYD Dolphin, created in cooperation with the Chinese eSports club eStarPro.
It features white paint, blue graphics on the bonnet, door bugs and distinctive wheel arches, while the tailgate is lined with red bumpers with prominent graphics, and a spoiler on top, in addition to the multi-spoke wheels.
It appears that BYD provided it only for promotional activities, and it is unlikely to be launched in the market.
BYD Dolphin chassis and acceleration
BYD Dolphin is based on the company’s new online platform 3.0.
Being a budget city car, it doesn’t take advantage of the platform’s high-end specifications, such as support for high-powered 800V chargers for fast charging.
BYD called the 3.0 platform “the cradle of the next generation of electric vehicles.”
The chassis design incorporates the company’s ultra-safe Blade battery pack as a structural part.
Some claimed that the new car has an acceleration time of 0-100 km / h in 2.9 seconds, and some also claimed that its range is 1,000 km, figures that show us that they are incorrect, and that the range of the car is only 405 km.
Dolphin Quick Charge is powerful enough to gain a range of 150 km in just five minutes.
BYD says the torsional rigidity of the 3.0 e-platform models can be twice that of regular petrol models.
Technical specifications and categories
The BYD Dolphin or BYD EA1 measures between 4,070 and 4150 mm in length, 1,770 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height.
It has a wheelbase of 2700 mm.
They are available in three categories, and each category has a different scope.
The first and second classes use a 70 kW / 180 Nm permanent magnet synchronous motor.
The engine derives its power from a Blade LFP battery pack, and the power of the battery is 30.7 kWh in the first category, and the battery pack in the second category has a capacity of 44.9 kWh.
Class I offers a range of 301 km (
NEDC ) on a single charge, and Class II allows a significantly longer range of 405 km (NEDC).
Both feature 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 195/60 R16 tires.
BYD Dolphin will release an Australian version with a more powerful permanent magnet synchronous motor generating 130 kW (177 hp) and 290 mm of torque.
It reaches a top speed of 160 km/h.
The 44.9 kWh battery pack produces a slightly lower 401 km (NEDC) range.
List of technical and engineering specifications for BYD Dolphin
BYD Dolphin Specifications
first category
second class
high quality category
Length
4,070 mm
4,125 mm
4,150 mm
Display
1,770 mm
1,770 mm
1,770 mm
Height
1,570 mm
1,570 mm
1,570 mm
wheelbase
2,700 mm
2,700 mm
2,700 mm
Engine type
PMSM
PMSM
PMSM
Engine power
70 kW
70 kW
130 kW (177 PS)
motor torque
180 Nm
180 Nm
290 Nm
Battery Pack Energy Content
30.7 kWh
44.9 kWh
44.9 kWh
Scope (NEDC)
301 km
405 km
401 km
Highest AC charging power
7 kW
7 kW
7 kW
The highest DC charging power
40 kW
60 kW
60 kW
Fast Charging Time (30-80%)
30 minutes
30 minutes
30 minutes
Acceleration time from 0-50 km/h
3.9 seconds
3.9 seconds
3 seconds
Price and features
BYD Dolphin was launched in China at the 2021 Chengdu Auto Show on August 30, 2021, with prices falling in the range of CNY93,800-121,800 (AU$20,294-26,352).
According to press reports, BYD received nearly 2,000 Dolphin pre-orders within just one hour after the presale began on August 13, 2021. BYD has also sold more than 6,000 units of its new car, according to Chinese press reports.
Dolphin comes with LED headlights and taillights, heated ORVM units, a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 5-inch digital instrument cluster, heat pump, 6-way driver’s seat and 4-way front passenger seat Directions, driving recorder, mobile key (NFC-based).
The panoramic sunroof is some of Dolphin’s main features.
It should be noted here that no other electric vehicle in this segment is equipped with a heat pump.
Australian BYD Dolphin/EA1 launch delayed
In July 2021, Nexport CEO Luke Todd said that the launch of the EA1 in Australia had been postponed until 2022. He confirmed that BYD was planning to launch the new electric car in Australia last July, with deliveries to begin in the first quarter of 2022 (January-March 2022),
And Nexport, Dolphin’s agent in Australia, announced that it will price the BYD Dolphin in Australia “for less than A$35,000.”
In October 2021, Niceport announced that the launch schedule was delayed, and the Australian production line dedicated to producing BYD Dolphin was disrupted, due to the Corona pandemic.
BYD is expected to launch its Yuan Plus electric SUV as the brand’s first model instead of a hatchback.
The Chinese manufacturer wants to launch a total of six BYD models worldwide.
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.