BYD’s cheapest electric car just got even more affordable. The EV maker is fueling its price war with gas-powered cars with the launch of its newest “mini Lamborghini” electric car. The BYD Seagull EV Honor Edition starts at $9,700 (69,800 yuan), 5% cheaper than the previous model.
A new era of electricity is cheaper than oil
After surpassing Tesla to become the largest EV maker globally late last year, BYD is carrying the momentum into 2024.
BYD kicked off a price war with gas-powered cars last month with the launch of its Qin Plus EV, starting at $15,200 (109,800). The Chinese automaker said the new EV officially opened “a new era of electricity is lower than oil. “
The DM-i model (PHEV) is even cheaper, starting at 79,800 yuan ($11,000) with up to 74 mi (120 km) NEDC all-electric range.
The EV version is offered with either a 48 kWh or 57.6 kWh battery pack for up to 261 mi (420 km) or 316 mi (510 km) CLTC range, respectively.
Last year, BYD introduced the Qin Plus Champion Edition (DM-i model) priced below 100,000 yuan ($13,900) for the first time. BYD claimed with the same price as gas-powered cars, the new model was “directly destroying the moat of joint venture vehicles.”
A few days later, BYD followed it with the new Dolphin EV Honor, starting at $13,900. The new BYD Dolphin features more performance and an improved design at a lower price tag.
Last week, BYD fueled the price war by cutting the prices of its new Tang and Han models. Then, earlier this week, BYD cut the price of its best-selling electric SUV, the Yuan Plus, to $16,600 (119,800 yuan).
BYD unveils cheaper Seagull EV starting under $10,000
BYD introduced the cheaper Seagull EV (Honor Edition) in China Wednesday with a “shocking price starting from 69,800 yuan.” That’s about $9,700 USD.
The new Seagull is available in 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh BYD Blade battery packs for 190 mi (305 km) or 252 mi (405 km) CLTC range, respectively.
BYD’s new Seagull is available in three trims.
BYD Seagull Honor Edition trim
Starting Price
Range (CLTC)
Active
$9,700 (69,800 yuan)
190 mi (305 km)
Free
$10,500 (75,800 yuan)
190 mi (305 km)
Flying
$12,000 (85,800 yuan)
252 mi (405 km)
BYD Seagull Honor Edition prices and range
Inside, the new EV features a 10.1″ rotating center infotainment. DiLink’s intelligent network connection allows users to interact with the vehicle and play videos.
The new Seagull EV can fast charge from 30% to 80% in 30 mins. According to local reports, BYD’s Seagull is being called “Lamorghini mini” because former Lamborghini designer, Wolfgang Egger led the project.
BYD recently launched the Seagull EV in South America. It will be known overseas as the Dolphin Mini and will have a starting price in Brazil of around $20,000 (99,800 BRL).
Electrek’s Take
BYD is launching an attack on gas-powered vehicles with an EV priced below $10,000. The Seagull (Dolphin mini) is quickly expanding overseas, stealing market share from mass-market automakers like Toyota.
Over 280,000 Seagull EVs were sold in China last year, topping the Dolphin and Yuan Plus (Atto 3). Although this is BYD’s cheapest car, it’s still a decent EV compared to many low-cost electric cars in China.
BYD’s aggressive price cuts are worrying automakers like Ford. Ford’s CEO Jim Farley said if you cannot compete with Chinese OEMs, “then 20% to 30% of your revenue is at risk.”
For this reason, Ford is developing a low-cost EV platform to prevent falling further behind Chinese EV makers and Tesla.
BYD is also expanding into new markets like Luxury and mid-size SUVs. Last month, the automaker introduced its $233,000 (1,680,000 yuan) Yangwang U9 electric supercar with a 0 to 62 mph sprint in 2.36 seconds.
The launch follows two mid-size electric SUVs, the Sea Lion 07 and Song L, aimed at the best-selling Tesla Model Y.
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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