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The Multinational BYD Plans to Bring Its New Affordable Electric Car, Seagull, to the Brazilian Market to Compete with the Renault Kwid, Currently Titled the Cheapest Electric Model in the Country.
For those looking to contribute to the environment and the energy transition, it has been difficult to buy their first electric car. In Brazil, for example, one of the cheapest electric cars is the Renault Kwid, which does not cost less than R$ 70,000. However, it is possible that soon Brazilians will be able to purchase an affordable electric car with more range. This involves the launch of the BYD model, called Seagull, an electric car that costs only R$ 57,000 and may arrive in Brazil.
Meet BYD’s New Affordable Electric Car That Will Compete with the Renault Kwid
The Chinese brand presented its new electric subcompact at the Shanghai Auto Show, which took place in April. The new affordable electric car is even smaller than its sibling Dolphin; however, this is not necessarily a problem since it is designed for urban use.
As its name suggests, the Seagull (seagull in English) is part of the Ocean series from the manufacturer. In addition to its design with sharp angles, creating a sportier look, it features decoration elements reminiscent of the sea.
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In the Brazilian market, the first representative of the series to be sold was the Yuan Plus, an electric SUV that costs R$ 270,000. The aesthetics of the Seagull combines three colors on the body and interior, namely green, blue, and black, with a black mask on the taillights.
Inside, the affordable electric car from BYD features stylized buttons on the dashboard and a well-designed plastic finish. Regarding the technology in the competitor to the Renault Kwid, there is a multimedia center with a large 12.8-inch rotating screen and a floating instrument panel with a 5-inch display. Another highlight is an induction cellphone charger.
New BYD Seagull Delivers a Range of 405 km
In terms of performance, the affordable electric car has a 76-horsepower motor, limiting its top speed to 130 km/h, which is not a problem for driving in Brazilian cities. As for the battery, customers have two options, one the cheaper version at R$ 57,600 with a 30 kWh battery and a range of 305 km under the CLTC cycle. The more advanced version at R$ 70,000 comes factory-equipped with a 30 kWh battery, having a range of 405 km under the same cycle.
Both models offer DC charging that can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in about half an hour. The battery of this electric model competing with the Renault Kwid is composed of sodium ions and uses a blade arrangement system developed by BYD itself. With these technologies, the Chinese manufacturer can reduce costs and still provide greater energy capacity even with limited space.
Dimensions of the BYD Electric Car
The compact hatchback that will arrive in Brazil to compete with the Renault Kwid surprises positively in terms of size.
The vehicle measures 3.78m in length and 1.71 m in width, being 10 cm larger than the Renault Kwid. Still, it only seats 4 passengers and has modest legroom, given that the car has a 2.5m wheelbase.
Due to all this, the new affordable electric car from BYD has received an excellent reception in China, where it received 10,000 reservation orders in just 24 hours. In addition to contributing to the automaker’s plans to sell 3 million electrified vehicles in its home country.
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