BYD to launch Dolphin hatchback in Europe this year as its most affordable EV
The BYD Dolphin hatchback has the potential to become the Chinese automaker’s most popular EV model in Europe as it will now enter major markets overseas this year. At a starting price of around 30,000 euros ($33K), the Dolphin will also arrive at BYD’s most affordable electric option.
Last summer, Build Your Dreams (BYD) announced expansion plans beyond China and Japan into Europe, where the conglomerate’s automotive branch shared it would begin selling three of its passenger EVs – the Han sedan, which we ourselves test drove, the Atto-3 crossover, and the Tang SUV.
BYD quickly followed up with some presale pricing for Europe ahead of initial deliveries in Norway and Sweden, which have since been followed by sales in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, and France. Last October, we shared news that BYD intended to bring a fourth EV – the Seal midsize sedan – to Europe as well.
BYD launched the Seal in China a year ago at a starting price below $32,000 to compete with the Tesla Model 3. Following the news of the Seal’s entry into European markets, the automaker’s head of sales for the EU shared that BYD was also considering bringing its Dolphin hatchback over as well.
Today we have learned that the Dolphin will, in fact, go on sale in Europe this year and could easily become BYD’s most sought-after model.
Dolphin to join BYD’s growing EU lineup as most affordable
Like previously announced plans for the Seal EV, BYD shared its intention to begin sales of the Dolphin hatchback in Europe before the end of 2023. The $33k Dolphin could serve as an effective tool in attracting European consumers with a growing appetite for low-cost, compact EVs.
Compared to the other four BYD models currently sold or on the way to Europe, the Dolphin is easily the most affordable. The model has a 45 kWh battery pack and will arrive at the aforementioned price point of 30,000 euros, while a larger 60 kWh battery promises 427 km (265 miles) of range and will be available for an MSRP of 38,000 euros (approximately $42,000).
The Dolphin and Seal also feature BYD’s unique blade battery technology and sit atop the automaker’s 3.0 platform. Looking ahead, BYD Europe’s head of sales, Pere Brugal, said the company will continue to expand its sales to all major markets in Europe in the second half of this year. Spain began sales last month and, according to Brugal, Italy will soon join the pack.
Brugal said the Dolphin will now be part of BYD’s sale expansion overseas but expects the hatchback to fare better in southern Europe, as its lack of all-wheel drive could deter consumers to the north who have to drive in winter conditions.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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