BYD Han first drive: A sleek introduction to a growing name in foreign EVs
BYD’s EVs may not be sold in the United States, but that wasn’t about to stop me from getting my hands on one. As the (self-proclaimed) resident expert on Chinese EV automakers here at Electrek, I felt a civic duty to you readers to get behind the wheel of the BYD vehicle, in this case a 2021 Han EV and report my initial thoughts about a brand that is quickly expanding en route to becoming a household name. Join me on my journey through sunny Southern California during my first driving experience with BYD.
Quick background. BYD, short for “Build Your Dreams,” is a Chinese manufacturing conglomerate founded in 1995, of which its BYD Auto subsidiary followed eight years later. With two decades of automotive experience under its belt, BYD Auto only recently built its final combustion vehicle, leaning further into its current status as one of the world’s largest plug-in EV manufacturers.
BYD’s full embrace of electrification has helped deliver a growing lineup of two separate series of EVs in the Chinese market, including the Han luxury sedan. Most recently, the automaker has looked to expand the global access of its all-electric products as well.
In the summer of 2022, BYD Auto shared plans to begin selling its EVs in the Japanese market followed by a vow of future EV deliveries in Germany and Sweden just over a week later. Other markets have been announced since including Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and, most recently, the UK.
To support its growing sales footprint overseas, BYD shared its intentions for at least one, if not two, manufacturing facilities in Europe. The company recently stated it’s more likely to build its own plant rather than inherit one from another automaker like Ford, for instance.
One of the EV models that will be a key offering in BYD’s expansion into Europe will be the Han sedan, and although it may not be for sale in the US, its North American team was able to get us access to one to try out. Here are my impressions.
The Han EV is BYD’s mid-size luxury sedan offering
Let’s start off with some specs so you have an idea of what I was working with during my week with the BYD Han. Unfortunately, because the Han is not sold in the US, I was driving a model built for China that had been adapted for US roads.
So I didn’t have access to all the features the EV has to offer, but was definitely more than able to experience the criteria that truly counts… I just didn’t have navigation. That said, I know my way around the South Bay of California pretty well these days (and also have that iPhone thing as a backup).
Furthermore, my first drive with BYD was in a 2021 version of the Han – once again, not a North American EV, so the company has not gotten a more recent model over to the West Coast yet. Still, the BYD Han had plenty to offer if only as an appetizer to a brand growing on a global scale.
The EV I was loaned was a dual motor, all-wheel-drive configuration powered by a 76.9 kWh pack featuring BYD’s unique LFP blade batteries. The pack combines for 550 km (341 mi) range (NEDC), and I can contest that actual range was over 300 miles.
As you can see in the images above, my BYD Han came in an “AI Blue” exterior complimented by 19″ two-tone aluminum alloy wheels. While its charging standard was GB/T (again, China), one of the coolest parts about the BYD Han’s exterior was its vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities. As you can see above, I was able to plug in a coffee maker and have some much needed caffeine to start my day, all powered by the EV itself.
My version of the Han was also the Lux trim, complete with a slew of high-end details, especially when you work your way inside. Check it out:
A sleek, spacious interior and a very smooth drive
Despite being in an EV not necessarily designed for my country, the BYD Han had a lot to offer me as a driver and even more for my passengers. As you can see in the images above, the textiles were a quality caramel leather, extending from the dash all the way back to the rear seats where the passengers can control most of the EV’s functions themselves on their very own touchscreen.
I had no trouble connecting my phone via Bluetooth and listening to my music, although I did find it funny that the system tried to showcase album covers for the bands I was listening to, but they were of Chinese artists that were clearly not a match in the best way.
I particularly enjoyed the air purification system that tells you the quality of the air outside the BYD Han and what the levels are inside the cabin for comparison. I also found the steering wheel buttons intuitive and easy to learn. The center tablet can display horizontally or flip vertically (two years before the Fisker Ocean did it, sorry Henrik), but I found I really didn’t really like the vertical screen. Anyways, how did the BYD Han drive? Let me tell you:
Overall I found the ride of the 2021 BYD Han to be smooth, efficient, and slightly sporty to boot. You can notice the low drag coefficient of 0.233 as the EV seems to cut through passing air resistance, especially as you flip to sport mode and really open it up.
It’s 0-62 mph acceleration in 3.9 seconds is definitely fast, but didn’t knock my socks off. Still, I took it up and down some windy roads and it handled everything with speed and ease. Not to mention a quiet interior, even with the panoramic roof open to get a whiff of that salty ocean air (sorry to those of you in the snow right now, I just had to rub it in).
I found the Han’s camera system to be better than good, offering a rear camera plus side and bird’s-eye looks to ensure nothing gets dinged. Very helpful. The trunk space (410 liters) left a bit to be desired in terms of multiple sets of golf clubs, but for a sedan of its size, it’s adequate. No frunk either as you can see above.
Perhaps everyone is just clueless around me, but I thought driving around in this sleek blue EV would be sure to turn some heads and have people wondering, “what the hell is that?” To my disappointment, that wasn’t really the case. There were definitely some Tesla drivers taking pictures and the occasional double take at a crosswalk though. Perhaps BYD needs to get its name out more in the US!
Overall, I found driving the BYD Han to be quite enjoyable, and you most certainly feel the luxury element when inside it, no matter what seat you’re in. As I’ve mentioned several times on other drives, I prefer really stiff regenerative braking, and the Han didn’t give me that, even on its highest setting, but the rest of its performance was above what I’d expect for its price range.
I truly appreciate the opportunity I had to test out an EV so rare (non-existent, really) for this market and get my first BYD drive off my checklist. I’m looking forward to comparing the Han to plenty more BYD EV drives as the company continues to expand in 2023 and beyond. Until then!
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Chevy is resurrecting both the Spark and EUV nameplates with the all-new, affordable Chevy Spark EUV. GM hopes its new, 249-mile range EV will be a “game changer” that helps accelerate the company’s EV transition in export markets.
There’s an old saying that goes, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” And to that end it seems that GM’s Chevy brand has figured out a way to put China’s electric technology lead to work in their favor, rebadging the Baojun Yep Plus SUV built by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture.
Meet the all-new 2026 Chevy Spark EUV – a compact, Bronco-lookin’ four-door crossover that’s ready to take South America, Africa, and the Middle East by storm.
Big style, tiny package
Like its Baojun-badged siblings, the new MY2026 Chevrolet Spark EUV is powered by a single 75 kW (101 hp), 180 Nm (130 lb-ft) motor driving the front wheels. Power comes from the Baojun’s 42 kWh LFP battery that, with regenerative braking, is good for up to 360 km (220 miles) on the NEDC driving cycle.
The new Spark is also equipped with a 10.1″ infotainment screen and 8.8″ digital instrument cluster. Interestingly, the Spark EUV ships with support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard – two technologies that GM claim lead to “unsafe” driver in North America.
Built to turn heads and spark excitement, the 2026 Chevrolet Spark EUV debuts in the ACTIV trim, boasting a bold, boxy exterior, a sleek two-tone roof, and sporty 16” wheels. Compact yet spacious, it’s the perfect everyday runner, offering seamless balance of practicality, driving dynamics and personality.
And for those who love to stand out, the Spark EUV offers six vibrant color options, including Sea Blue with a Polar White roof, Track Yellow, Tiger Blue, Gentle Gray with a Star Twinkle Black roof, and Milky Tea. But personalization doesn’t stop there – drivers can further customize their Spark EUV with exclusive accessories like Ground Effects for the front and rear, Side Moldings, Assist Steps, and Side and Rear Storage Boxes.
Whether you’re an adventurer, gaming enthusiast, music lover, sports fan or someone who enjoys pop culture, a range of unique accessories and themes ensures your Spark EUV stands out and feels uniquely yours.
“The Chevrolet Spark EUV is the coolest and most attainable vehicle in its segment – and is positioned to drive EV adoption in the Middle East,” explains Jack Uppal, General Motors Africa and Middle East President and Managing Director. “Not only is it fun to drive, but the Chevrolet Spark EUV also offers customers the chance to personalize their vehicle with a variety of customization options, making it uniquely their own.”
In addition to basically re-using R&D and tooling budgets from the Baojun brand, the 2026 Chevy Spark EUV keeps its price low with relatively low EV tech. The charging, for example, tops out at “just” 50 kW – a far cry from the 300-plus kW from Tesla, let alone the 480 kW from some of the cutting-edge Chinese brands.
The 2026 Chevrolet Spark EUV will be available in UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, and Egypt later this Summer. No official word on pricing.
Electrek’s Take
I know this is an overseas model with almost no chance of coming to the US – and that’s our loss. A practical, fun, affordable EV like this could do huge numbers if it was priced right. And with the Baojun Yep starting at less than $12,000 US in China, I can’t imagine a sub-20K MSRP would be entirely out of the question.
SOURCE | IMAGES: GM.
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The 2025 US Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study from J.D. Power tells us that more people are more satisfied with their EV experience than last year – and the EV owners who are the most satisfied with their rides can be found behind the wheel of the BMW iX.
Now in its fifth year, the J.D. Power U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study focuses on the the first year of vehicle ownership. The overall EVX ownership index is a 1000-point score that measures EV owner satisfaction in both premium and mass market segments across 10 factors. Those being (in alphabetical order):
- accuracy of stated battery range
- availability of public charging stations
- battery range
- cost of ownership
- driving enjoyment
- ease of charging at home
- interior and exterior styling
- safety and technology features
- service experience
- vehicle quality and reliability
And, for the second year in a row, a BMW has taken the top two spots in J.D. Power’s survey, slotting just ahead of the Rivian R1T and R1S models (the leaders in 2023). In the mass-market BEV segment, BMW’s MINI sub-brand also performed well.
The reason BMW is consistently pulling ahead? It seems to come down to education. “First-time EV buyers are receiving minimal education or training,” explains Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power. “Dealer and manufacturer representatives play the crucial role of front-line educators, but when it comes to EVs, the specific education needed to shorten the learning curve just isn’t happening often enough. The shortfall in buyer education is something we’re seeing with all brands.”
For their part, BMW and MINI do a great job with consumer education – and the company’s Genius program (cunning cribbed from Apple’s Genius Bar playbook) is the best in the car business. With that in mind, it’s hard to imagine this going down any other way.
Bigger trends in the EV space
After a decline in BEV owners’ overall satisfaction results in 2024, J.D. Power reports that owners of both premium and mass market battery electric EVs are expressing a change of sentiment this year. Part of that is better education, another part is more mainstream awareness of EV charging basics, but most of that is the overall growth and improvement of America’s publicly accessible DC fast charging network.
Among mass market BEV owners, satisfaction is up 86 points year over year (396) as infrastructure buildout continues and brands benefit from the opening of the Tesla Supercharger network. Satisfaction with public charger availability is highest among owners of premium BEVs (551).
These results should come as no surprise to Electrek readers and Quick Charge listeners. We covered a Paren study late last year that showed a nearly 50% increase in DC fast charging sessions YOY over Thanksgiving weekend. In that study, the company’s proprietary EV charger reliability index was up 3.4% compared to last year, reaching 85.5% and signaling an improving charging experience overall for EV drivers.
Another big EV trend covered in J.D. Power’s survey is the market’s permanence. EVs have staying power, in other words, with the vast, sweeping majority of first-time EV buyers indicating that they’re not going back to ICE.
verall, 94% of BEV owners are likely to consider purchasing another BEV for their next vehicle, a rate that is also matched by first-time buyers. Manufacturers should take note of the strong consumer commitment to EVs as the high rate of repurchase intent offers the ability to generate brand loyal customers if the experience is a positive one. In fact, during the past several years, the BEV repurchase intent percentage has fluctuated very little, ranging between 94-97%. This year’s study also finds that only 12% of BEV owners are likely to consider replacing their EV with an internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicle during their next purchase.
“With five years of conducting this study and surveying thousands of EV owners, it’s apparent that once consumers enter the EV fold, they’re highly likely to remain committed to the technology,” Gruber adds.
J.D. Power reports that BEVs reached a market share of 9.1% in 2024, up from 8.4% in 2023. That’s in line with Cox Automotive’s numbers, which led that company to predict that 1 of every 4 new cars sold in the US (cleverly sidestepping the truck segment) would be battery-powered in 2025.
You can check out the results of the J.D. Power surveys, below, then let us know what you think of these results in the comments.
EVs with most satisfied owners
SOURCE | IMAGES: J.D. Power; BMW.
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Dutch charge point operators Fastned have opened their first DC fast-charging station with up to 400 kW chargers in Italy, marking the eighth nation the company has built stations in.
Fastned’s new EV charging location was built into the existing Truck Park Brescia Est service plaxa on the busy A4 motorway roughly between Milan and Venice. The A4 is a major traffic artery in the northern part of Italy, but that’s not the only reason the site was chosen.
Fastned says that the majority of electric vehicles registered in the boot-shaped nation are located in the northernmost regions of the country of the country. More specifically, the new charging facility is located roughly halfway between Bergamo and Verona, while the A4 continues west to Lake Lugano and Lake Como or and east to Lago di Garda.
The facility offers four Alpitronic-built HYC400 Hyperchargers, DC fast charging stations with a massive, 400 kW output – quite a bit more than what even the newest Tesla EVs can make use of, but still significantly slower than either the megawatt charging some battery electric semi trucks or the latest 6C luxury cars from China can make use of.
The new Fastned charge park was originally set to open in 2024, but wasn’t officially commissioned by the Italian motorway operator A4 Holding Group until this week.
Electrek’s Take
You might be asking yourself why I’m writing about a new charging station in Europe when I usually write about big trucks and tractors. The answer is simple: I read “Truck Park Brescia Est” and assumed this was a truck stop. By the time I figured it out I’d already written about three quarters of the article, and rather than throw it away I decided to use it as yet another opportunity to point out that Tesla is a step or three behind the latest charging tech from China.
I also re-posted an episode of Quick Charge on this same topic (above). Enjoy!
SOURCE | IMAGES: Fastned, via Electrive.
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