AUTO

China’s New $10,000 EV BYD Seagull

June 24, 2023

BYD (Bring Your Dreams) released a $10,000 EV that shocks the industry.
China is offering Chinese buyers a 10% discount on the already low price.
The Seagull uses sodium-ion battery technology.
In the first 24 hours of the Seagull’s announcement, over 10,000 people preordered the vehicle.
The BYD Seagull will only be available for sale in China.

The Chinese manufacturer BYD is setting a new price standard for electric vehicles with its all-new Seagull EV. The subcompact EV hatchback has a starting price of $10,800 and includes the company’s newest sodium-ion battery technology.

All About the BYD Seagull

The BYD Seagull was introduced in April 2023. It’s the smallest and most affordable model in the Ocean lineup with the Dolphin, Seal, and SO3. It has a range of up to 252 miles or 405 km. And, has a $10,800 starting price. It uses sodium-ion battery technology – reducing costs and adding efficiency in colder temperatures. It will compete with other subcompact models like the Tesla Model 2, Nio ET5, and Xpeng P5 despite the price range.

A Stylish and Compact EV with Unique Design Features

This EV is built atop BYD’s 3rd gen EV platform. It has a small body measuring 3780 mm long, 1715 mm wide, and 1540 mm tall, and a 2500 mm wheelbase. It has unique sharp lines, soft curves, unexpected creases, aggressive headlights, a sloping roofline, and a lightbar of rear lights. The small grille and huge BYD emblem give the Seagull a sleek minimalist look. It’s available in several colors including white, black, blue, red, and yellow.

Comfort, Technology, and Innovation

The interior features a flowing dashboard and seating for up to four passengers with surprising comfort and space. It has a 12.8-inch touchscreen that swivels and rotates. The infotainment system has navigation, connectivity, and voice activation. It has a 5.0-instrumentation cluster. The paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow for regenerative braking.

Impressive Powertrain and Battery Options

The powertrain includes a 55-kW or 75-kW electric motor. Both engines are on the front axle giving the Seagull front-wheel drive. The smaller motor goes from zero to 60 in 11 seconds, while the larger motor has a 0-60 time of 9 seconds. It has two battery options: a 30-kWh lithium-ion phosphate sodium-ion battery or a 38-kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery – both using BYD Blade battery technology. The 30-kWH battery is the first use of the Li-Na battery line with lower costs, better thermal stability, and better cold-weather performance. It has a range of 190 miles or 105 km. It can be charged from 30 to 80% in 30 minutes.

Enhancing Efficiency and Range in Hybrid EVs

Sodium-ion batteries are slower to charge and have lower energy density. BYD has been developing this tech since 2012 to reduce dependence on lithium. The sodium-ion batteries will be used with lithium-ion batteries in a hybrid combination that ups their efficiency and range.

China is offering a 10% discount to Chinese buyers who purchase the Seagull. They can enjoy the tax discount until the end of 2023. Over 10,000 preorders happened in the first 24 hours of its debut. The long range and low price make it a popular choice. The vehicle should arrive at dealerships later this year, but BYD does not expect to sell the Seagull outside of China.

BYD Seagull Gallery

Global EV Growth

EVs are seen as a key solution to reducing carbon emissions, as gas-powered vehicles account for about 25% of global greenhouse gasses today. In 2023, EVs will make up 18% of global car sales, compared to 4% in 2020. The International Energy Agency reports that 14 billion new EVs and PHEVs will be sold in 2023. The growth is driven by costs, consumer preference, and environmental awareness.

China is the hardest market for EVs, and it’s also the largest market – accounting for two-thirds of EV sales in 2022. The country has a subsidy program and regulations that set minimum sales of EVs. China also has many companies racing to produce the cheapest EVs.

What is BYD?

BYD produces EVs, solar batteries, and batteries. A chemist founded the company in 1995 as a rechargeable battery manufacturer to compete with Japanese companies. It acquired an automobile company in 2003. BYD has expanded its market presence as one of the leading EV manufacturers in the world.

As of 2021, the company’s largest shareholder is Wang Chuan Fu – the founder, while the second largest is Liu Sheng Yang – a co-founder and relative of Wang. Warren Buffett’s company owns over 7% of BYD.

In 2022, the company sold 911,141 battery-electric vehicles, which is 184% more than it sold in 2021. Only Tesla sold more BEVs during the same period. However, BYD sold more PHEVs than any other automaker on the planet.

BYD is so popular because the automaker has a variety of products, innovations, and costs. It’s also expanding globally. It sells electric sedans, SUVs, and compact cars including the Song Plus, the Han, the Yuan, the Dolphin, and the Seal. It also develops its own batteries, motors, and electronics giving it an edge in safety, performance, and efficiency. The cars are affordable and attractive thanks to subsidies from China. It’s selling vehicles in Latin America, Europe, and Africa where the company is also selling EV buses and trucks.

China has been reducing EV subsidies after years of supporting EV infrastructure since 2016. The company began offering subsidies in 2009 but now wants companies to compete for business with their own finances and innovation.