Malaysia-bound BYD Dolphin EV debuts in Australia

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese EV maker BYD made its debut in Malaysia late last year with the launch of the Atto 3. Back then, it also previewed Dolphin and Seal EVs, which have been earmarked to arrive locally in Q4 2023. Well, ahead of that, one of these electric cars, the Dolphin compact hatchback, entered the Australian market.

BYD Australia has revealed the Dolphin price and specifications along with opening its order books. The deliveries of the EV will commence by the end of this year.

The BYD Dolphin is offered in two variants - Dynamic and Premium, priced at AUD 38,890 (approx RM 122k) and AUD 44,890 (approx RM 140k). The top-spec ‘Sport’ variant will join the lineup at a later date.

The Australia-spec BYD Dolphin Dynamic is powered by a front-mounted electric motor that generates a maximum power of 95 hp and a peak torque of 180 Nm. In terms of performance, the EV runs from zero to 100 kmph in 12.3 seconds.

The motor is fed by a 44.9 kWh battery pack, offering a WLTP-claimed driving range of 340 km. As for the charging, the battery takes 28 minutes for 30-80% SoC when using 60 kW DC fast charging.

The BYD Dolphin Premium, on the contrary, gets energy from a more powerful electric motor with 204 hp and 310 Nm output levels. It is hooked to a 60.48 kWh battery unit that lets the EV run for 427 km on a single charge. The mid-spec version takes 7.0 seconds to complete the century sprint.

Parts of the EV’s standard equipment kit are - 

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Panoramic glass roof
• 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay connectivity
• Automatic climate control
• Embedded satellite navigation, 
• Wireless phone charging
• Heated power-adjustable front seats

• Synthetic leather-look seat trim
• Keyless entry and start
• Surround-view camera with parking sensors
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Rear cross-traffic alert

What do you think of this affordable Chinese EV? Will it be a game changer for the Malaysian EV market? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: BYD Atto 3 EV to be on display at 168 Park Selayang this month