- The Dolphin Surf will start at £18,650
- BYD is currently Tesla’s biggest competitor
- The Dolphin Surf had a maximum DC charging rate of 85kW
BYD, has launched The Dolphin Surf, a new electric vehicle (EV) that claims to be the cheapest available on the UK market in its latest attempt to overtake Tesla as the world’s biggest EV manufacturer.
The price of The Dolphin Surf will start at £18,650, and mixes a “sharp design, a spacious interior, punchy performance and BYD’s in-car technologies”, according to the company. The price makes it one of the UK’s cheapest EV’s on the market.
However, analysts suggest BYD could cut the price further. A near identical car sold in China by BYD under the Seagull name is priced around £6,000, although The Guardian reported that Chinese safety regulations are significantly less onerous.
BYD is currently Tesla’s biggest competitor, and is above Elon Musk’s company for hybrid cars. It also registered more pure EVs than Tesla in Europe for the first time in April.
Features of The Dolphin Surf include:
- A ‘floating roof’ and full-width LED breaklights: The C-pillar boars a dot matrix design inspired by ice crystals. It helps to visually separate the roof, creating a ‘floating’ effect. Meanwhile, the rear features full-width LED breaklights.
- Daytime running lights: The headlights feature clean, crisp lines, consisting of six angled light strips. The compact EV also has daytime running lights to create an overall sharp and sophisticated look.
- Sporty rear spoiler: The integrated roof spoiler enhances its sporty look – adding to its aerodynamic profile, helping to improve efficiency and contributing to excellent range.
The Dolphin Surf had a maximum DC charging rate of 85kW, meaning it can charge from 10% to 80% of battery capacity in just 30 minutes.
Its dashboard also features BYD’s signature 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen, equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a voice control via a ‘Hi BYD’ common to access many key functions without taking your hands off the wheel.
The car is powered by the Blade Battery, bringing benefits in packaging and durability, and has the world’s first mass-produced 8-in-1 electric powertrain system, which combines all essential elements into a single module. This maximises space utilisation and improves efficiThe compact EV has an official range of up to 137 miles, as well as includes intelligent cruise control and automatic emergency braking.
