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BYD’s best-selling EV is also its cheapest, starting at under $10,000 in China. Leaked images reveal that BYD’s Seagull EV is getting an upgrade. Check out the new look below.

What to expect from the upgraded BYD Seagull EV

Since launching in April 2023, the Seagull has become a force not only in China but also overseas. The small electric car, known abroad as the Dolphin Mini, is already a top seller in key markets like Brazil.

Starting at under $10,000 (69,800 yuan), the Seagull was a major contributor to BYD’s record sales surge last year.

The Seagull was China’s top-selling vehicle in November, EV or gas-powered, with over 56,100 models sold in November alone. BYD’s low-cost electric car overtook Tesla’s Model Y, with around 44,500 sold during the month.

Despite launching a new Honor Edition last March, BYD’s Seagull EV is due for another upgrade. New images revealed in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) latest release of new energy vehicles set to be sold in the country give us our first look at the new look.

The first thing you will notice is the redesigned front bumper and air intake, giving the mini EV a refined, sportier look.

Another upgrade worth noting is the Seagull now includes a new camera system on the front bumper and side-view mirrors with 360-degree views. The new model will also get front parking sensors.

BYD's-Seagull-EV-upgrade
BYD Seagull EV (Dolphin Mini) testing in Brazil (Source: BYD)

In terms of size, the Seagull remains the same at 3,780 mm long, 1,715 mm wide, and 1,540 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm. To give you a comparison, that’s even smaller than the now-retired Chevy Bolt EV at 4,145 mm long, 1,765 mm wide, and 1,611 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm.

The low-cost electric car has a standard 55 kW (74 hp) front motor. It’s available with two battery options: 30.1 kWh or 38.9 kWh, good for the 305 km (190 mi) and 405 km (252 mi) CLTC range, respectively.

BYD Seagull EV trim Starting Price Range
(CLTC)
Active $9,500
(69,800 yuan)
190 mi
(305 km)
Free $10,300
(75,800 yuan)
190 mi
(305 km)
Flying $11,700
(85,800 yuan)
252 mi
(405 km)
BYD Seagull EV prices and range

BYD’s current Seagull EV starts at just 69,800 yuan, or about $9,500. The longer-range “Flying” trim starts at 85,800 yuan, or roughly $11,700.

Prices and additional specs will be revealed closer to the launch, which will be in the first half of 2025. With new features, the range-topping model could see a price rise. However, BYD has aggressively slashed prices on its top-selling models over the past year, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see prices remain about the same or even slightly lower.

Source: CarNewsChina, China MIIT

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Tesla launches ‘Multipass’ in more markets for frictionless third-party charging

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Tesla launches 'Multipass' in more markets for frictionless third-party charging

Tesla has quietly expanded its new MultiPass feature to more regions across Europe, allowing owners to charge at third-party stations directly through their Tesla account — no separate app, card, or registration required.

The feature, which first launched in the Netherlands earlier this year, is now rolling out to additional countries, including Germany and France, according to Tesla’s own support page. The update builds on Tesla’s push to make charging as frictionless as possible — not just at Superchargers, but across an entire network of compatible public chargers.

What is Tesla MultiPass?

Tesla describes MultiPass as a “seamless charging option” that lets drivers find and charge at third-party charging stations using their existing Tesla Account. By partnering with a network aggregator, Tesla now connects to over 1,000 charging networks and thousands of stations across Europe.

In practice, MultiPass aims to make the charging experience at third-party stations as close to a Tesla Supercharger as possible — you can simply tap your Tesla key card or select the stall in your Tesla app at a supported charger, and the cost of the session is automatically billed to your Tesla account. The same payment method used for Supercharging applies, and sessions appear right in your Tesla app’s charging history, unified with your Supercharger activity.

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Tesla’s goal is to reduce the number of sign-ups and third-party accounts you need to charge outside of Tesla’s own network. MultiPass turns the Tesla key card into a universal charging credential.

Tesla owners simply need to activate MultiPass through the Tesla app:

  1. Open the Tesla app and check “Messages” for the MultiPass invitation
  2. Tap Learn More → Next
  3. Follow on-screen steps to activate your key card via NFC

Once activated, you can start charging sessions in two ways:

  • Tap your key card directly on the supported third-party charger
  • Or, start the session in the Tesla app, selecting the stall remotely

Your session appears instantly in the app, complete with cost and time details, just like any Tesla Supercharger session.

Electrek’s Take

Tesla already operates the world’s most reliable and extensive DC fast-charging network. Supercharger is probably the best thing Tesla has ever done.

But outside of the Supercharger footprint, especially in Europe’s dense urban areas, third-party chargers fill critical gaps.

MultiPass eliminates one of the last friction points for Tesla drivers to use these third-party charging stations.

It looks like after a short testing phase in the Netherlands, Tesla is now ready to expand access throughout Europe.

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It seems like Elon Musk stoking a civil war in England isn’t good for Tesla’s sales there

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It seems like Elon Musk stoking a civil war in England isn't good for Tesla's sales there

Tesla’s EV registrations in the UK, its biggest market in Europe, took a dramatic hit in October 2025 — just 511 units — marking one of the brand’s weakest showings in recent memory. That’s a steep drop from 971 in October 2024 and 2,677 in October 2023. The tone of the market is shifting.

Maybe Tesla’s CEO stoking a civil war in England isn’t helping the automaker’s demand in the important market.

Tesla’s sales have been struggling in Europe over the past two years, and the decline has been accelerating in 2025.

While some believed that things were stabilizing for the American automaker in Europe, the October data tells a different story. Tesla had its worst month of deliveries of the year in 12 of its 15 biggest European markets.

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As Tesla sales in Germany crashed over the last year, partly because Tesla CEO Elon Musk supported the far-right AfD party, the UK became Tesla’s biggest market in Europe.

But now it looks like the UK is going in the same direction.

According to registration data, Tesla delivered only 511 vehicles in the UK in October 2025. Tesla has over 50 stores in the country – that’s an average of roughly 10 vehicles per location for the whole month.

It’s the worst monthly performance since October 2022.

Much as Tesla’s demand crashed in Germany, Elon Musk’s politics might be behind the lower demand in the UK.

The CEO regularly comments on UK politics and often shares inflammatory reports about crimes perpetrated by immigrants. He also shares misleading crime and immigration statistics aimed at spreading hatred.

After he tweeted that “Civil war is inevitable. Just a question of when.”, he was accused of stoking a civil war in the country.

Musk’s public commentary on UK topics has sparked backlash and resulted in his “unfavorability rating” reaching 80% in the country.

Electrek’s Take

Meanwhile, Tesla’s demand cliff is opening the door to competitors. BYD is now expected to outsell Tesla in the whole year of 2025 in the UK despite Tesla having a presence in the market for much longer.

Not many industry watchers thought it would happen this fast.

Tesla appears to be completely missing out on the surge of EV sales in Europe due to a mix of having a stagnant EV lineup, brand problems brought on by a controversial CEO, and increased competition.

In the US, Musk is believed to have cost Tesla about 1 million sales over the last 3 years.

I think it will soon be approaching this number in Europe.

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HEINEKEN is brewing beer with a massive 100 MWh heat battery

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HEINEKEN is brewing beer with a massive 100 MWh heat battery

Rondo Energy and energy producer EDP are installing a massive 100 MWh renewable-powered heat battery at HEINEKEN’s brewery in Lisbon, Portugal. The project will deliver round-the-clock renewable steam and reduce emissions without altering the facility’s beer brewing process.

Photo: Rondo

Brewing HEINEKEN with zero-carbon steam

The Rondo Heat Battery (RHB) will be the biggest deployed in the beverage industry worldwide. It can store electricity as high-temperature heat using refractory bricks, then convert that heat into 24/7 steam, all without burning fossil fuels.

At HEINEKEN’s Central de Cervejas e Bebidas Brewery and Malting Plant, the heat battery system will supply 7 MW of steam, powered by renewable electricity from onsite solar and the grid. That steam is identical to steam created by gas-fired boilers, but without the carbon pollution.

EDP is providing the renewable electricity and will deliver the steam directly to HEINEKEN via a Heat-as-a-Service model. Rondo is supplying the battery, and HEINEKEN gets to ditch fossil fuels without retooling its brewing process.

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Why this matters

This project is a big win for industrial decarbonization. High-temperature steam is one of the most complex parts of manufacturing to electrify, and the beer industry runs on it. HEINEKEN’s Lisbon site already uses solar panels for electricity and electric heat pumps for hot water, and this move helps it go even further.

It’s part of HEINEKEN’s “Brew a Better World” plan to hit net zero emissions by 2040 and decarbonize all of its global production sites by 2030.

Additionally, the deployment aligns with Portugal’s national target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.

The bigger picture

With the European Investment Bank and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst backing this and other Rondo projects with €75 million in funding, this Lisbon installation is just the beginning. Rondo’s technology enables energy-hungry industries to switch from fossil fuels to renewable electricity without compromising 24/7 operations.

Rondo CEO Eric Trusiewicz sums it up: “We are thrilled to be installing our first Rondo Heat Battery in Iberia, and to support HEINEKEN to reach its goals. We look forward to helping industries across Iberia cut costs and carbon, and help Iberia capitalize on the opportunity.”


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