Build Your Dreams still sounds more like the title of a personality seminar to most people than one of China’s largest car manufacturers. Three models (Atto 3, Han and Tang) are already available in Austria, two more will be added this year. One of them is the BYD Dolphin, a compact electric car the size of the VW ID.3 and MG4. “Krone” motor editor Stephan Schätzl introduces him here in the video.
The BYD Dolphin (BYD is short for Build Your Dreams) might not be the first thing you would think of as having something to do with dolphins, but it’s part of the company’s current design line, dubbed “Ocean Aesthetics,” its So inspiration comes from everything to do with the sea. One may associate it with flowing lines, also in the interior, and above all the inner door handles, which are reminiscent of dolphin fins in their shape. But one can also look at the car soberly, which is the natural approach, because one initially develops an emotional relationship not build up. For us Central Europeans, BYD is an unknown Chinese brand like many others, with which we associate absolutely nothing. Except maybe skepticism. We don’t know that there might be a BYD battery in our smartphone – like in every Tesla Model 3 and Y, by the way. Or. did they know. BYD is not just anyone, but a real giant, even though the company has only been around since 1995 and has only been building cars for 20 years. But the Chinese learn quickly – and they also learn quickly what the European customer wants. You can now see that with the BYD Dolphin. It looks like a small car from the front, but it has an absolutely grown-up format: 4.29 meters long, 1.57 m high and 1.77 m wide. This corresponds pretty much exactly to the VW ID.3, which is only a touch wider. The wheelbase measures 2.70 m (like the Renault Megane E-Tech). The design is pleasing and looks European. Well, a German is responsible for this: Design chief Wolfgang Egger has already held this position in the course of his career at Alfa Romeo, Seat, Lancia, Audi and Lamborghini.Absolutely not a cheap carThe perceived value in Chinese is remarkable. The interior is creative, harmonious and attractively designed, the display of the top variant measures 15.4 inches and switches between vertical and horizontal orientation at the push of a button (a kind of “signature move” at BYD). The push of a button is to be taken literally: there are real buttons on the steering wheel and on the center console, not touch surfaces. Bravo! There’s enough storage space, including an easily accessible compartment in the center of the dashboard; There is also a mobile phone charging station between the front seats. The operating system is still being worked on, but it already leaves a good impression and the graphics are fast, even when navigating. Until the market launch, German should also be available as the menu language. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are initially only available with a cable, but later also wirelessly. The material mix is okay, even if some hard plastic has been used, for example on the top of the door panels or on the front dashboard. But the surfaces are structured, which makes them attractive. This way there is no cheap impression. That’s good, because BYD doesn’t see itself as a cheap brand and doesn’t want to be perceived as such. This also underscores the rich sound when the doors slam. The seats with their integrated headrests are very comfortable and offer lateral support, the surfaces feel pleasant. The space is great, even in the back seats, where tall people will find enough knee room behind them. Only the trunk is a bit small. 345 to 1310 liters are not too much, and as is usual in this class, there is no front trunk (frunk), although it could have been accommodated under the hood powerful electric motor driving the front axle. With the now presented 60.5 kWh battery, it can do this for a distance of 427 kilometers according to WLTP. Also 160 km/h fast. The standard sprint value of the 1658 kg dolphin without a driver is given as 7.0 seconds. That’s snappy and also feels lively. However, the BYD Dolphin takes its time when charging: it charges with a maximum output of 88 kilowatts. The manufacturer specifies 29 minutes as the loading time to go from 30 to 80 percent. None of the competitors take that long. Later, a smaller – around 40 kWh – battery is to be submitted, which should enable a range of around 300 km. Special battery technology But the highlight is the battery itself: it is not a lithium-ion battery. Batteries, but an “LFP blade battery”, i.e. lithium iron phosphate batteries. They have the advantage that they are particularly safe and durable. They do not catch fire if pierced by a piece of metal in an accident. And the durability enables an extreme battery guarantee: ten years with unlimited kilometers for 80 percent capacity. This is also a reason why BYD does not allow higher charging power. Tesla controls this differently with identical batteries. A heat pump will be on board as standard, as well as the Vehicle2Load function, so you can charge a cool box, an e-bike or even another electric car with the car battery using an adapter.Chassis? Pre-series. Pre-series vehicles were available for the first kilometers driven. The closed track showed that the driving dynamics experts at BYD still have some work to do. At the moment, the Dolphin feels comfortable but still a bit sluggish, the steering indirect and without precise reset. You could live with that, but the competition does it better. In addition, the demands on “Build Your Dream” are high. And the learning curve is steep, as you can hear.Many assistance systems already come as standard with assistants from the emergency brake to rear collision and cross-traffic warning or rear cross-traffic brakes on board, optionally the offer ranges from the 360-degree camera to adaptive cruise control.The pricesWhat the BYD Dolphin costs should, has not yet been revealed in detail, after all, it will only be on the market in late summer. The starting price should be around 30,000 euros, with the small battery and basic equipment. For the top equipment with a large battery, 38,000 euros are due. In between there is a lot of imagination, probably above that too. The two-tone finish will likely cost extra. On the other hand, if Tesla plays more rounds of price cuts, BYD prices might change as well. With all due respect for the largest e-car manufacturer in the world, it will probably need a certain price difference to established manufacturers in Europe.
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