Booming Chinese car brand BYD has slashed the price of its most affordable electric car.
The Dolphin small hatchback is now $2000 cheaper, with prices starting at $38,890 (before on-road costs) for the base Dynamic and $42,890 for the Premium.
Despite the price cut, the Dolphin has not regained its crown as the cheapest EV on sale in Australia. That title belongs to the GWM Ora, which is priced at $35,990 drive-away.
The price cut follows the larger BYD Atto 3 scoring a $3000-plus price haircut last week, despite being an upgraded model with more standard equipment.
The Dolphin Dynamic doesn’t make the most compelling case on paper with its single electric motor making just 70kW and 180Nm and it’s fed by a little 44.9kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 340km.
The Premium peaks the interest a little more with a larger 60.5kWh battery powering a more potent 150kW and 310Nm electric motor. Driving range is boosted to 427km.
They aren’t the fastest-charging EVs on sale: the Dynamic can absorb just 60kW and the Premium 80kW. This means they can both replenish their batteries from 10 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.
Its stats are in line with the GWM Ora, but both are left in the dust by the more capable and expensive MG4 hatchback.
The BYD Dolphin has been the slowest seller in the brand’s line-up as buyers gravitate towards the Tesla Model 3-rivalling Seal sedan and the Atto3 compact SUV.
BYD’s local importer, EV Direct, has declared there is some interest in bringing in an even cheaper model to sit under the Dolphin.
That model is called either Seagull or Dolphin Mini in other markets, and EV Direct CEO David Smitherman previously told CarsGuide the company is looking to expand its range and that cheapie could be on the cards.
“So, I’ve had a look at that car… and it’s actually a really good proposition,” he said. “And it’s actually bigger than you think. It’s sub-Dolphin, but it’s got the latest tech. It’s a good size vehicle.
“But I am not confirming that it’s coming to us right now.
“We’re certainly wanting to grow the portfolio. Our intention is to broaden the product offering, but that it will just take time.”
Australia is in the grip of an electric car price war as more and more carmakers are vying for a shrinking pool of new EV buyers.
Peugeot cut the price of its e-2008 small electric SUV by more than $20,000 to $39,990 drive-away. Only a few days later the company had sold all its remaining stock and the car won’t be on sale until the updated version arrives early next year.
Tesla has slashed the price of its Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan several times since the start of April to $55,900 (before on-road costs) and $54,900 respectively.
An entry-level Model Y was $65,400, and the same Model 3 was $61,900 – meaning a $9,500 discount on the Model Y and a $7000 saving on the Model 3.
Ford‘s Mustang Mach-E electric SUV range is between $7000 and $8000 cheaper after recent price cuts.
Ford already lopped up to $7000 off the Mach-E before it went on sale in December last year.
Established carmakers are now preparing to roll out an array of cheap, small EVs targeted at the everyday driver.
Volkswagen is the latest brand to confirm it’ll build a circa-$30,000 EV with its coming ID.1 hatchback.
That price puts it in the same ballpark as an entry-level Mazda3 or a fully-loaded Mazda2.
Jeep and Citroen are rolling out little EVs at a similar price and Kia will launch the EV3 small electric SUV in Australia next month.
Kia and Hyundai both have mini EV SUVs in the works with the EV2 and Inster.