BYD EA1 (BYD Dolphin) EV hatchback walkaround video from China
We’ve covered the BYD EA1 previously, but until now, there have been few detailed English language reviews of the car. Wheelsboy on YouTube brings us an up-close walkaround of the vehicle in a BYD showroom, giving us some insights on the styling and features of the vehicle.
A walkaround of BYD’s compact EV, the EA!. Image: Wheelsboy on YouTube
We’ve covered the BYD EA1 previously, but until now, there have been few detailed English language reviews of the car. Wheelsboy on YouTube brings us an up-close walkaround of the vehicle in a BYD showroom, giving us some insights on the styling and features of the vehicle.
For the Chinese domestic market, the EA1 is actually named 海豚 (Pinyin: Hǎitún), or Dolphin, hence the rather oceanic-themed marketing surrounding the vehicle. Ignoring the inflatable Orca on the roof It’s important to take this vehicle seriously. The EA1 offers a refined and upmarket design language for a small electric city car, with use of a clamshell-like front hood/bonnet, coloured trim accents, signature LED lighting all around, with a dramatic rear light cluster evoking traditional Chinese knots , and a spacious, practical interior. In a world where manufacturers are racing to build more and more electric crossovers and SUVs, no company has cracked the global compact city car formula yet.
The EA1 features BYD’s patented Blade Battery pack, which claims a lifecycle of 1.2 million km after 3,000 charge/discharge cycles and an extensive single-charge range capability. The company manufacturers its battery packs in house, at a 20 GWh facility in Chongqing, China.
Australia is likely to first see the EA1 in a rideshare capacity, after right-hand-drive distributor Nexport signed a deal with rideshare vehicle leasing company Splend for 3,000 electric vehicles.
BYD EA1 hatchback officially named Dolphin, based on 800 V EV platform
BYD’s EA1 electric hatchback, unveiled at Auto Shanghai back in April, has been officially named Dolphin, and adopts a new design philosophy of “ocean aesthetics”.
BYD’s new Dolphin. Images: BYD
BYD’s EA1 electric hatchback, unveiled at Auto Shanghai back in April, has been officially named Dolphin.
Adopting a new design philosophy of “ocean aesthetics”, the Dolphin is reminiscent of VW’s ID.3, and features a tall body with short front and rear overhangs. We’re not sure how the ocean theme has been realised (are those gills at the front?) However, it’s a pleasing if conventional small EV design.
BYD announced the new name alongside these images via its Weibo account in China. Designed by Wolfgang Egger — formerly of Alfa Romeo and the Volkswagen Group — The Dolphin introduces a new elongated BYD logo,
Specifications for the Dolphin were discovered in a regulatory filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The Dolphin offers a wheelbase of 2,700mm, and a length, width and height of 4,070mm, 1,770mm, and 1,570mm.
The BYD Dolphin debuts a new logo.
The rear design of the dolphin is on-trend with its horizontal LED bar.
Underpinned by BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, this next-generation EV architecture features an 800 V battery system to increase efficiency and allow for very fast charging. Heat pump technology will be standard, as will BYD’s signature lithium-irn-phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery technology.
The Dolphin will also debut BYD’s self-developed automotive OS dubbed BYD OS, which the company claims will bring enhanced autonomous driving.
Alongside the BYD e2, Nexport plans to bring the Dolphin to Australia in 2022 starting from “well under $35,000 AUD”. At this stage, it is not known whether the Dolphin nameplate will make it to markets outside China.
Source: Gasgoo Auto News
