BYD has started sales in China of a new electric model, developed together with Toyota, destined to put the almighty Tesla Model 3 on the ropes. An innovative model that has advanced technology in its entrails, offering a maximum autonomy of up to 700 kilometers .
European and Asian manufacturers have conspired to unseat the almighty Tesla Model 3 from the throne that it has occupied practically all over the world, and from which it does not intend to get off in the short term, so the only solution is to propose a rival that assumes this role and is capable of meeting this challenge. The Chinese from BYD have just started the marketing in the Asian giant of a model that has all the arguments to beat the star model of the Elon Musk brand.
BYD, which last March exceeded the barrier of 100,000 units sold for electric and hybrid cars, already sells the new BYD Seala sedan with a fastback style with very generous dimensions -4.80 m long, 1.88 m wide and 1.46 m high- that allow for a large interior space, and to a great extent also thanks to to one innovative third-generation platform debuting sophisticated “CTB” technology.
The new BYD Seal is a high-tech electric saloon
With a very streamlined and modern design, the BYD Seal has a lot in common with the future Toyota bZ5 that we have already seen in tests in China, sharing the general features of the Japanese that will be sold in the country of the rising sun and also in Europe. However, the BYD Seal stands out especially for the technology on board, as it is one of the first models to have the battery pack anchored to the chassiswith a structure of the cells in the form of honeycomb and with a very rigid top cover that supports the floor of the passenger compartment.
The new-generation Chinese electric vehicle is committed to lithium and potassium phosphate batteries developed and manufactured by the Asian manufacturer itself, which are offered on board the Seal in two capacity levels, 61 and 82 kWh, with a maximum autonomy of between 550 and 700 kilometers. Those at BYD have confirmed that this new battery chemistry prevents thermal runaways and also allows denser storage, so the weight distribution between the front and rear axles is perfect in a 50:50 ratio.
The model offered in China is available with a rear electric motor or two units and all-wheel drive, managing to reach 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds in the most powerful version, also being equipped with an 800-volt charging system. The manufacturer has announced knockdown prices in the Asian giant, between 29,700 Euros for the most basic version and 40,500 Euros for the most powerful. Quite a bargain to put the Tesla Model 3 on the ropes, and which opens the way for its arrival in Europe in the coming years, especially in Norway where the manufacturer already sells some of the models of its zero emissions catalogue.