BYD arrives in Europe with three electric models

Although it has only been in existence for 27 years, having been founded in 1995 to manufacture batteries, the Chinese company BYD (Build Your Dreams) or “build your dreams” has become a technology giant of the first order. It currently operates in four different sectors: automotive, electronics, new energies and rail transport, with divisions dedicated to affordable solar power generation, energy storage, semiconductor manufacturing and electrified transport (production of trucks, buses, forklifts and cars).

BYD began by producing batteries, initially lead-acid, although it later developed units built with lithium-ion cells. In 2003 it formed its automotive division, developing the F3 in 2005. In 2008 it launched the world’s first mass-production plug-in hybrid vehicle, the F3DM, developed entirely in-house, and announced that it would stop producing combustion-engine vehicles to focus on an electric future, helping to cool the Earth’s temperature by 1 ºC. In 2020 it introduced the new Blade battery system, a specific development by BYD to improve the performance of accumulators, and has already produced more than 2.3 million cars. It has committed to manufacturing more than 2 million electrically powered passenger cars, with the aim of creating a complete clean-energy ecosystem that reduces global dependence on fossil fuels and lowers the planet’s temperature to help build a better world.

After selling several models in China and Japan, BYD has decided to enter Europe through well-known automotive distributors, with attractive products in different market segments, although it has already been selling a seven-seat all-wheel-drive SUV in Norway for a year with considerable commercial success. The brand will launch in the fourth quarter of the year in other European countries, such as Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden and the Netherlands – initially with the Atto 3 and later with the Tang EV and Han EV models – where electric vehicles are already firmly established, before continuing with the rest of the European markets. Although no launch dates or prices for the models have been revealed, they could reportedly reach Spain by mid-2023.

Electric commitment

The smallest model that will be brought to the Old Continent is the Atto 3, a compact SUV designed specifically for the European market and aimed especially at a young and dynamic audience. It measures 4.45 metres in length, 1.87 m in width and 1.61 m in height, and has a wheelbase of 2.72 metres to provide greater interior space. It features a completely flat floor and a folding rear seat system to expand cargo capacity when needed, so the boot volume can vary from 440 to 1,338 litres with the seats folded down.

In principle, this model, built on the new scalable “3.0” platform, will only be available with front-wheel drive and an electric motor delivering 150 kW, that is, 204 CV, a figure quite common among competitors in this segment. It has a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) polymer battery with a capacity of 60.5 kWh, which provides a homologated combined-cycle range of 420 km.

It accepts three-phase AC charging at 11 kW and DC fast charging at 88 kW, which would allow it to go from 30% to 80% in about 30 minutes. In terms of performance, it promises acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h. To improve energy efficiency, it comes as standard with a heat pump that takes advantage of thermal exchange from some components, improving temperature conditioning both in the cabin and for the battery. It also has comprehensive standard equipment including level 2 driver-assistance systems, a glass panoramic roof, a central screen and vegan leather upholstered seats.

Its interior is very distinctive, with a spacious, modern and technological design dominated by two screens: a small one on the steering column and another of 15.6 inches, which can be oriented vertically or horizontally, automatically at the touch of a button. The format of some components is striking, somewhat daring, such as the door pulls placed above the speakers, the door trays with elastic straps that mimic guitar strings, or the gear selector itself, which resembles a weight-training machine.

During the product presentation we had the opportunity to drive the Atto 3 on a short closed-circuit route, and the impressions were very positive. It feels smooth and energetic, very progressive, with excellent feel. It offers two driving modes, normal and sport, as well as two regeneration levels, standard and high, although there are no substantial differences between them. It has no e-pedal system, but in high regeneration mode a greater battery recharge capacity is noticeable when lifting off the accelerator.

Tang EV, a seven-seat SUV

With seating for seven occupants, the Tang EV SUV has been on sale in Norway for a year with considerable success. It has a body 4.87 m long, 1.95 m wide and 1.72 m high, with a wheelbase of 2.82 metres, which has made it possible to offer three rows of seats (2+3+2) and a boot capacity of 235/940/1,655 litres, with 7, 5 or 2 seats respectively, when the seat rows are folded.

Thanks to two motors delivering 380 kW of combined power (516 CV) – one on each axle – it offers all-wheel drive with electronically variable torque distribution, managed through the two motors. They are powered by a lithium iron phosphate “Blade” or prismatic battery with 86.4 kWh of usable capacity, sufficient to provide a range of 400 km in mixed cycle, which is impressive for a vehicle that is not very aerodynamic, large and weighs more than 2.5 tonnes.

It can charge at 110 kW DC through a CCS connector, so it can add more than 200 km in 30 minutes using a high-power charger, and it charges on AC at 7.4 kW single-phase and 11 kW three-phase.

In tests carried out by a Norwegian publication, it was the model that showed the smallest deviation in range (-11%) when driven at temperatures between 0 and 10 ºC, followed by other models such as the Tesla Model Y Long Range and the Kia EV6 AWD.

It promises spectacular performance, reaching a top speed of 180 km/h and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. In addition, it features an impressive “launch control” mode, which uses both motors to improve traction and deliver maximum acceleration. This system switches off automatically once the foot is lifted from the accelerator.

However, if the acceleration is striking, so is the braking capacity, enhanced by a Bosch Power Brake system (IPB System), with large Brembo calipers, capable of stopping the Tang EV from 100 km/h in just 36 metres, a result decisively helped by the 22-inch Continental tyres fitted.

Han EV, a luxury saloon

With a four-door body and striking dimensions – 5 metres in length, 1.91 m in width and 1.49 m in height, with a wheelbase of 2.92 m – the Han EV luxury saloon has already achieved a commercial milestone in China, with a total of 25,800 units sold in July.

Like the Tang EV SUV, it also has all-wheel drive supplied by two motors delivering 516 CV and a 85.4 kWh usable-capacity Blade battery, and it allows fast charging at 110 kW when using a DC charger. It also features a V2L (Vehicle to Load) system, capable of powering external electrical devices with up to 3 kW.

Its four-door body has been especially refined with aerodynamic shapes, which has allowed a range of 521 km (WLTP mixed cycle) to be achieved. That said, its boot capacity is limited to 410 litres because it has no tailgate. Top speed is limited to 180 km/h, although in this case the “launch control” system reduces the 0 to 100 km/h acceleration to 3.9 seconds.

New battery concept and control unit

Undoubtedly, one of the main secrets lies in the production of a special type of battery, the “Blade Battery”, whose difference from other manufacturers lies in its design of parallel longitudinal blades, achieving 50% more space compared with a conventional design. This system helps reinforce the rigidity of the chassis, increases safety in the event of impact or puncture of the battery and allows higher energy density, which translates into faster charging.

It is produced with lithium iron phosphate and has a cooling system on both faces of the assembly, taking advantage of heat exchange from other vehicle components, which improves operating conditions and range in extreme temperatures.

Another interesting development from the brand is the integration of the electronic system components into an “8-in-1” “8 in 1” unit, which groups together in one assembly the control unit, the management system, the power distribution unit, the motor and its controller, the transmission, the inverter and the on-board charger.