The BYD (EV) Thread

FiestaST

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So we need a dedicated BYD thread seeing as the brand will be launching in SA very soon. All prior BYD news, reviews & the like was previously dumped in the generic Chinese Cars Thread.

China’s Tesla is launching in South Africa — with an electric car that offers load-shedding backup

Chinese automotive giant Build Your Dreams (BYD) is launching its compact electric crossover — the BYD Atto 3 — in South Africa.

MyBroadband has learnt that the company, often referred to as “China’s Tesla”, plans to hold a local launch event for the vehicle towards the end of June 2023.

The Atto 3, known as the BYD Yuan Plus in China, is already on sale in several markets outside its homeland — including Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Singapore.

It features a single front-wheel-drive electric motor that produces a peak output of 150kW and 310Nm torque, enabling acceleration from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

The Atto 3 gets a 50kWh battery on the standard range model, while an extended range variant features a 60kWh pack.

Both of these support DC fast charging at up to 150kW and AC charging of up to 11kW.

The former can take the larger of the two batteries from 30% to 80% in around 29 minutes or 0–100% in roughly 80 minutes.

The extended range version can drive up to 420km on a single charge, based on the WLTP standard.

Top Gear has given the Atto 3 a 7/10 rating, applauding its decent driving experience, equipment, and refined and spacious cabin.

Popular YouTube motoring channel Carwow also recently reviewed it, praising its surround view cameras, large boot space, and remote start capability.

Some sore points were the lack of lumbar support on its front seats, no retainers for the rear seat belts, and a low-placed boot release.


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Chinese electric-car maker BYD launching in South Africa – What’s coming

The Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker BYD – short for Build Your Dreams – is making its official entry into the South African market in the coming months.

The first model bound for local roads is the Atto 3 battery-powered crossover which is scheduled to debut in the late weeks of June.

The Atto is the second Chinese EV that is in the pipeline for our market, following in the footsteps of the recently-unveiled GWM Ora which will undoubtedly be the BYD’s biggest competitor.

In Australia, the Atto retails from just over AU$51,000 (R650,000) meaning it has the potential to become the country’s new, most affordable EV.

https://topauto.co.za/news/76796/ch...r-byd-launching-in-south-africa-whats-coming/
 
BYD Atto 3 review

But for now, it suffices to say that the Atto stacks up enticingly against its competitors in terms of raw specification, and it is individual – quirky, even – enough in its conception to stand a real chance of gaining traction in this unrelentingly competitive segment. The star rating will come when we drive a showroom-spec car on public roads – probably in the UK – in the next couple of months, but the takeaway here is that the Atto 3 is likely to be more than worth the short wait.

 
Driving the BYD Atto 3 Proves Chinese Cars Are a Major Threat to the Automotive Establishment

I drove the all-electric BYD Atto 3. It was just as good as some American EVs — if not better.

 
BYD Atto 3 review

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?

“It drives decently under most circumstances… depressing though it is to say, in this class 'decent' is as good as it gets”

Broadly, we're impressed. The outside is boring, but kids will love the cabin. The screen systems, glass roof, 360-degree cameras, and rotating screen will wow the neighbours.

The battery capacity and max range (just 260 miles) throw up questions, but actually for most people this is a sweet spot as it reduces cost and weight versus a longer-range pack. What family drives for more than three hours non-stop? And at that point they'll be able to top up because rapid-charge infrastructure in Britain is improving by the day. A battery bigger than that would be a waste of money and weight for them. More of a pinch-point for family holidays is the smallish boot.

It drives decently under most circumstances, and, depressing though it is to say, in this class 'decent' is as good as it gets.

 
Electrifying first look at the BYD Dolphin



Fully Charged Show first look at the BYD Dolphin



What Car? first look at the BYD Dolphin

 
The 3 best reviews of the Atto 3:


1) CarExpert review of the BYD Atto 3


2) The Late Brake Show review of the BYD Atto 3


3) Carwow review of the BYD Atto 3

 
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