BYD has opened pre-orders for its large electric sedan, the Great Han, known in China as Da Han, during the Chengdu Auto Show. Prices start at 249,900 yuan, or approximately $37,200 according to the figures cited in the source, while the price of the top rear-wheel-drive version reaches 269,900 yuan, or approximately $40,200.
The car is significant because it combines a claimed range exceeding 1,000 kilometers with a price that, in its base version, falls below the $40,000 threshold. However, the range and charging figures mentioned are based on the Chinese CLTC standard, and the source provides no figures under the EPA or WLTP standards. It also does not mention plans to launch the car outside China.
Three Versions and a Range of up to 1,008 Kilometers
The Great Han is available in three options with rear- or all-wheel drive. The rear-wheel-drive Premium and Flagship versions use a single electric motor producing 370 kilowatts, equivalent to 496 horsepower, along with a 102.326-kilowatt-hour battery. The claimed range for both versions reaches 1,008 kilometers, or 626 miles, on a single charge according to the CLTC standard.
The all-wheel-drive version adds a front electric motor, bringing total output to 570 kilowatts, or 764 horsepower. Although it uses the same battery pack, its claimed range falls to 880 kilometers, or 546 miles, according to the same standard.
Fast Charging Is the Main Technical Highlight
All versions come with a Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging technology. BYD says this system can charge the battery from 10% to 70% in five minutes when using 1,500-kilowatt charging infrastructure. Charging from 10% to 97% takes nine minutes.
These figures make charging capacity, rather than range alone, the focus of the announcement. However, practical use of it depends on the availability of chargers capable of delivering 1,500 kilowatts, a point for which the source does not clarify the extent of deployment or the conditions of use. Therefore, the claimed charging time cannot be considered a uniform experience for all users or charging locations.
A Large Sedan with Driver-Assistance Features and a Luxury Interior
The Great Han is approximately 5,256 millimeters long, 1,999 millimeters wide, and 1,510 millimeters tall, with a 3,130-millimeter wheelbase. According to the source, the car is larger than the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air and approaches the dimensions of the long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class.
Standard equipment includes the dual-chamber DiSus-A air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and front seats with a zero-gravity position. All versions also receive the God’s Eye B intelligent driving system, with driver-assistance functions including navigation with Autopilot and remote parking.
What Does This Mean for the Electric Vehicle Market?
The Great Han represents a clear expansion by BYD into the larger, higher-priced vehicle segment, following the Great Tang SUV and several models from its Denza brand. The practical change here is not limited to adding a new sedan to the Dynasty lineup; it lies in offering a package that combines a large battery, a high CLTC range, ultra-fast charging, and equipment typically associated with luxury segments.
However, judging the car’s ability to change the competitive landscape will remain tied to three open questions: the availability of 1,500-kilowatt charging infrastructure, the difference between the claimed range and real-world performance, and whether BYD will launch the Great Han in markets outside China. The source confirms that orders have opened in China, but it provides no details about global availability or delivery dates.