BYD has officially announced the second generation of its economic electric car «Seagull», which is sold globally in other markets under names such as «Dolphin Surf» and «Dolphin Mini», introducing extensive improvements in dimensions, technologies, and performance compared to the previous generation.
Prices for the new generation in China start at 62,900 yuan (approximately $9,500) benefiting from temporary trade-in incentives, while the regular base price starts at 65,900 yuan (approximately $9,900), which is lower than the previous version. In terms of size, the car has become longer by 425 mm with a wheelbase longer by 150 mm, bringing its dimensions to 4,205 mm in length, 1,810 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height, which allowed for an increase in internal capacity to accommodate five passengers instead of four in the first generation.
Advanced Safety System and Ultra-Fast Charging
The most prominent feature of the new edition is the integration of an advanced stabilization system for high-speed tire blowouts (140 km/h or about 87 mph) as standard equipment, which allows the car to maintain its path within the traffic lane until a complete stop. The company showed a recorded video testing this system successfully. The car is also available with the option of adding the DiPilot 300 autonomous driving assistant system supported by a roof LiDAR sensor.
Regarding the powertrain and energy system, the car relies on the second generation of «Blade Batteries 2.0» and fast-charging technology that allows the battery to be charged from 10% to 70% in just five minutes, and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The car operates with a front electric motor with a power ranging between 85 kW (114 hp) and 95 kW (127 hp), with two options for LFP battery packs with capacities of 30.1 kWh and 39.2 kWh to provide a driving range ranging between 320 km and 420 km according to the CLTC standard.
What Does This Development Mean for the Market?
This update represents a prominent step in the economic electric car category by transferring advanced safety technologies, such as the tire blowout handling system and advanced autonomous driving capabilities, to a car that is supposed to be low-priced. This shift enhances the competitiveness of popular electric cars and provides higher levels of comfort and safety that were not previously available in this price category, awaiting the launch of the updated versions in global markets soon.