A new electric SUV from China’s largest EV maker is launching on December 15. The BYD Song L, its new mid-size electric SUV, has already received over 11,000 pre-orders.
BYD unveiled the new Song L EV concept at the Shanghai Auto Show in April. Part of its Dynasty series, the new electric SUV coupe will compete with Tesla’s Model Y and ZEEKR 001.
The Song L follows the Yuan Plus (Atto 3 overseas), Tang, and Han in the series. Based on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, the model is similar in design to its premium Denza N7, launched in June.
After opening pre-orders on October 31, 2023, BYD revealed the Song L has already received over 11,000 interested buyers. That’s despite being available for only 17 days.
BYD’s new electric SUV is available in five trims with prices from 220,000 – 280,000 yuan ($30,700 – $39,000). It’s available in single and dual-motor versions. The single motor has 150 kW or 230 kW of peak power, while the dual version adds a 150 kW front motor for 380 kW combined max power.
Powered by BYD’s Blade battery (71.8 kWh or 87 kWh), the single motor offers 550 km (341 mi) or 662 km (411 mi) CLTC range, respectively.
Meanwhile, the dual-motor, powered by an 87 kWh Blade battery, features up to 602 (374 mi) CLTC range.
BYD Song L gathers momentum with pre-orders piling up
The news comes after BYD revealed another mid-size electric SUV last week, the Sea Lion 07. BYD’s Sea Lion 07 is also expected to compete with Tesla’s Model Y in the world’s largest EV market.
The Sea Lion 07 is part of BYD’s Ocean series. It’s expected to lead a new sub-brand of vehicles under the Ocean brand.
Designed by former Lamborghini and Audi head designer (now BYD’s chief designer) Wolfgang Egger, the new EV draws inspiration from sea lions jumping into the water.
The Sea Lion 07 will be priced between 200,000 – 260,000 yuan ($27,700 – $35,900). At 4,830 mm long, 1,925 mm wide, and 1,620 mm tall, the new EV will rival Tesla’s Model Y (L – 4,760 mm, W – 1,921 mm, H – 1,624 mm).
BYD’s Song L is also 4,840 mm (190″) long, 1,950 mm (77″) wide, and 1,560 mm (61) tall, putting it in the same category as the Model Y.
In China, Tesla’s Model Y is currently priced between 266,000 – 363,900 yuan ($36,900 – $50,500).
Electrek’s Take
BYD is aiming for Tesla’s sweet spot with its new mid-size electric SUVs. China’s largest EV maker came with 3,500 of surpassing Tesla to become the biggest pure EV maker in the third quarter.
Tesla delivered 435,059 vehicles in Q3, on pace for 1.8 million this year, while BYD delivered 431,603. The end of this year into next will be interesting as the world’s largest EV makers continue stealing market share from gas-powered models globally.
With the Cybertruck official launch event at the end of the month, Tesla is hoping to hang on to the title as it expands into new markets. Tesla has started bringing Cybertrucks to US showrooms ahead of the event.
Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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