Marketed since 2020, the BYD Han electric car is getting a new version for 2024. If the latter does not see a lot of change, it is however revising its prices downward. The goal ? Better compete with the Tesla Model 3 as well as the new Xiaomi SU7. And it also recharges faster, but that’s not enough.
If you are a loyal reader of Survoltés, you must now be well aware of BYD. And for good reason, the manufacturer regularly makes the headlines, since it recently became the number 1 electric company in the world, overtaking Tesla in the last quarter of 2024. But there is no question for the brand to rely on its achievements, quite the contrary.
A falling price
While it announced an even more intense price war than last year, the Chinese firm based in Shenzhen does not want to find itself left behind. This is how it recently announced a reduction in prices on its Dolphin and Atto 3, on the occasion of the Chinese New Year festivities. But that’s not all, because the company has also just updated some of its models, in order to make them more attractive and above all less expensive.
This is for example the case of the Tang SUV, which we were able to see during the last Paris Motor Show in October 2022. But this rival of the Tesla Model beginning of the year. This is indeed also the case for the Han EV sedan, which was one of the first models to be launched in Europe. The site Car News China gives us some information on this new version, revealed by the manufacturer on its page Weibo.
To tell the truth, and at first glance, the changes are almost imperceptible on this new version. The front remains identical, apart from the thin strip connecting the lights, which now becomes dark and no longer chrome. However, the light signature is unchanged. Same thing for the dimensions, with a length of 5.0 meters for 1.91 meters wide and 1.50 meters high. The wheelbase is still displayed at 2.92 meters.
But then, what are the real developments of this new version, known as Honor Edition? Besides the purple tint that appearsthe most notable remains the price, which falls by around 14% compared to the previous version. The range now starts from 179,800 yuan, which is equivalent to approximately 23,080 euros. Until now, the sedan had an entry ticket of 209,800 yuan, which is equivalent to 26,931 euros according to the current exchange rate.
Some improvements
This price is valid for the entry-level version, which has a range of 506 kilometers according to the Chinese CLTC cycle, which gives 430 kilometers in WLTP. The sedan features a Blade LFP (lithium – iron – phosphate) battery developed internally by the manufacturer and recently awarded. The most high-end version, called Eye of God, is launching from 249,800 yuan, or 32,066 euros. A price which will obviously be higher when the car arrives in Europe.
Remember that the current version is sold from 70,800 euros in France. That is to say a price double compared to Chinese prices.
This variation displays a range of 610 kilometers CLTC, or 518 kilometers with European WLTP approval. Regarding power, the range of the BYD Han EV ranges from 201 to 510 horsepower in this Eye of God version equipped with all-wheel drive and therefore two motors, one on each axle. The latter displays a torque of 700 Nm, delivered immediately.
Furthermore, the new version of the electric sedan inaugurates smart parking and autonomous driving on highways. This via the ADAS DiPilot 10 system0, which uses a Horizon Journey 5 chip offering 128 TOPS computing power. Added to this are millimeter sensors, 11 cameras and 12 ultrasonic radars.
The driving position does not seem to change, since it retains its large 15.6-inch touch screen, which reminds us of that of the Tesla Model 3. It is also the one that is in the line of sight of BYD with this new Han. Charging also becomes faster, going from 200 A and 120 kW to 250 A and 155 kW, which allows the battery to be filled with 30 to 80% in 25 minutes compared to 30 minutes previously.
This is made possible by the improvement of the 620 volt architecture, which in fact technically corresponds to 800 volts. But it’s still disappointing, because you can expect a 10-80% in about 35 minutes. This is much more than the Tesla, which takes 25 minutes to complete the exercise, or the new Chinese cars, which only take 10 minutes.
BYD Han also wants to do everything to stay in the race against the new Xiaomi SU7, which poses itself as a very serious competitor. It now remains to be seen when this version will be marketed in Europeand particularly in France.