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Global EV leader BYD launched a new version of its Seal electric sedan Monday, with starting prices around $25,000 (179,800 yuan). The Seal Honor Edition is BYD’s latest lower-priced EV to roll out, fueling its “liberation battle” against gas-powered cars.

BYD introduces new, lower-priced Seal electric sedan

After announcing its 7 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV) rolled off the assembly line Monday, BYD had more big news.

BYD introduced the “Seal Honor Edition” on its Weibo account, a new, lower-priced version of its Tesla Model 3 rivaling electric sedan.

The new BYD Seal starts at about $25,000 (179,800 yuan), about 5% cheaper than the previous model. It’s available in five trims priced between 179,800 yuan ($25,000) and 249,800 yuan ($35,000).

Based on the e-platform 3.0, the new EV is offered with 61.4 kWh or 82.5 kWh BYD Blade battery packs, providing 550 km (342 mi) and 700 km (435 mi) CLTC range, respectively.

The top-of-the-line 4WD performance version includes an 82.5 kWh battery for up to 650 km (404 mi) CLTC range.

BYD Seal Honor Edition trim Range
(CLTC)
Price
Elite 550 km
(342 mi)
179,800 yuan
($25,000)
Premium 550 km
(342 mi)
192,800 yuan
($26,700)
Premium 700 km
(435 mi)
202,800 yuan
($28,100)
Performance 700 km
(435 mi)
219,800 yuan
($30,500)
4WD Performance 650 km
(404 mi)
249,800 yuan
($35,000)
New BYD Seal electric sedan price and range

Much of the specs have remained the same, but BYD included new configurations and features.

BYD is also offering significant incentives like 0% interest for three years, free charging (including installation), data (5GB/mo), and cloud service for two years.

BYD-new-electric-sedan
BYD new Seal electric Sedan (Source: BYD)

At 4,800 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,460 mm tall, the new Seal is a direct rival to the Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm x L, 1,848 mm x W, 1,442 mm x H) in China. In comparison, the Tesla Model 3 starts at 245,900 yuan ($34,100).

BYD-new-electric-sedan
(Source: BYD)

Igniting the price war with gas-powered cars

The new Seal electric sedan comes after BYD kicked off a “liberation battle ” against gas-powered cars earlier this year by launching a series of lower-priced versions of its best-selling EVs.

BYD launched the new Dolphin Honor Edition last month, starting at $13,900 (99,800 yuan), a significant milestone priced under the 100,000 yuan mark.

BYD-new-EV-platform
BYD Dolphin EV Honor Edition (Source: BYD)

The automaker followed it up by slashing prices on its best-selling Atto 3 electric SUV, which now starts at $16,600 (119,80 yuan) in China.

Most recently, BYD launched its cheapest EV so far, the new Seagull (Dolphin Mini overseas), starting at just $9,700 (69,800 yuan).

BYD's-new-EV
BYD Seagull (Dolphin Mini) testing (Source: BYD)

With prices under $10,000, BYD’s new Seagull has sent shockwaves throughout the global auto industry. Automakers from all corners of the world have taken note of BYD’s new EV.

Former GM exec and current president of automotive at Caresoft Global, Terry Woychowski, said BYD’s new EV could be a “clarion call for the rest of the industry.” In a recent CNBC interview, Woychowski called the new Seagull “a significant event,” as automakers race to keep pace.

BYD's-new-EV
BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull) launch in Brazil (Source: BYD)

Caresoft, which analyzes every part of a vehicle to look for inefficiencies for its clients, said the Seagull was simple and efficiently built. Meanwhile, the quality and reliability were better than expected.

“What they did do is done very well,” Woychowski explained. “It’s efficiently done.”

Electrek’s Take

At this point, it seems like BYD is launching another lower-priced model every other day. However, the Seal is a significant model. It’s one of the few global all-electric sedans. And with a starting price under $25,000, BYD looks to take even more market share from legacy automakers.

Ford’s CEO Jim Farley called BYD’s new Seagull “pretty damn good,” warning rivals if they can’t compete with the Chinese, then “20% to 30% of your revenue is at risk.”

Ford is switching gears, like many legacy automakers, to focus on smaller, more affordable models to compete.

Source: CnEVPost, BYD Weibo

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DHL picks Mercedes eSprinter as it expands its electric van fleet

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DHL picks Mercedes eSprinter as it expands its electric van fleet

DHL Express has more than 10,000 eSprinter vans in its global delivery fleet, but none of those have been deployed in North America – until now, that is! The company recently added 45 new Mercedes eSprinter panel vans, and they’ve got plans for plenty more!

While Mercedes offers its eSprinters with a promised 206 mile estimated range, DHL says it’s consistently seen them exceed 240 miles in stop-and-go delivery duty, making them the longest-range battery electric vehicles in DHL’s US fleet.

This extended capacity makes them ideally suited for urban logistics while expanding their potential use in longer delivery routes. The eSprinter vans also offer the same massive cargo capacity as their diesel-powered brothers, making them efficient last-mile delivery solutions that don’t compromise on payload or operational reliability.

And, of course, the eSprinter will do all of that without the noise, vibration, and harmful carbon emissions of diesel.

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“Electrifying our fleet is one of the most visible and impactful ways we are moving toward a more sustainable future,” explains Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express, US. “The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter brings an extended range and proven cargo capabilities that allow us to serve our customers with zero emissions, while also advancing our global goal of more sustainable logistics. These vehicles not only strengthen our operations in major US cities but also set the stage for future electric fleet growth across the Americas.”

The 45 eSprinters will see deployment in Chicago, Indiana, and Pittsburg, and will act as a first step DHL’s global Sustainability Roadmap, which will see the company electrify 66% of its last-mile US delivery fleet (and some of its long-haul fleet operations) by 2030.

Electrek’s Take


DHL reaches 50 electric truck milestone with Orange EV, plans to double down
Orange EV; via DHL.

In addition to these 45 vans, DHL is electrifying its European and Asian delivery fleets, ramping up its sustainable aviation fuel use, and even exploring electric semis, eVTOL and hybrid aircraft deliveries, and more.

In short, they’re doing the right thing – or seem to be, anyway. Whether or not that commitment to decarbonization will win them more American customers remains to be seen.

SOURCE | IMAGES: DHL, via PR Newswire.


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Environment

Enphase debuts a new US off-grid solar and battery system

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Enphase debuts a new US off-grid solar and battery system

Enphase Energy just launched a new off-grid system that lets homeowners power their homes without a utility connection – even for extended periods. The California-based Enphase says the off-grid setup delivers a seamless way to live independently from the grid while still using solar, batteries, and a standby AC generator.

A full off-grid setup

The new system combines Enphase’s IQ Battery 5P with embedded grid-forming microinverters, IQ8 Series Microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart, and a third-party standby AC generator. The components work together to supply power to a home and automatically manage energy sources to maximize efficiency and reliability.

If the batteries are drained and the generator runs out of fuel, the Sunlight JumpStart feature can automatically recharge the batteries the next morning once the sun comes up.

The IQ Battery 5P delivers 3.84 kVA of power per 5 kWh of capacity, and systems can be scaled up to 40 kWh and 15.4 kVA. That’s enough power to start big household appliances like HVAC systems or water pumps. The IQ System Controller 3G provides the backbone, managing solar, batteries, and generator inputs to deliver up to 46 kVA of off-grid power.

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Smarter control and connectivity

Each system connects to the cloud through Enphase’s IQ Combiner 5C HDK, which bundles solar interconnection, communications, and metering into one box. For homes without reliable broadband, the built-in 4G LTE Cat 4 modem keeps the system online for monitoring, firmware updates, and remote support.

Homeowners can manage everything from the Enphase App – from solar generation and battery status to generator integration and load control.

Why it matters

As grid outages become more common and homeowners look for ways to gain energy independence, off-grid systems like this are becoming more appealing.

“With the launch of our off-grid solution, we are giving homeowners a reliable path to complete energy independence,” said Nitish Mathur, Enphase’s SVP of customer experience. Enphase says over 100 homes are already operating entirely off-grid using its technology. The company plans to expand availability beyond the US in 2026.

Read more: Battery boom: 5.6 GW of US energy storage added in Q2


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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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Environment

Global offshore wind surges ahead as Trump sinks US progress

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Global offshore wind surges ahead as Trump sinks US progress

Global offshore wind targets are still strong enough to triple global capacity by 2030, despite the US’s offshore wind stagnation under Trump. A new analysis from energy think tank Ember and the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) shows that the rest of the world is charging forward, underscoring confidence in offshore wind as a cornerstone of future clean energy systems.

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