The Chinese electric vehicle company BYD has introduced its third vehicle. The DOLPHIN electric hatchback marks its entry into South Korea. The new car was officially unveiled on February 5 and is priced in the 20 million won range which makes it one of the more affordable electric vehicles in the country. The launch of this product will help BYD strengthen its market position in Korea which has a rapidly expanding and highly competitive electric vehicle industry.
The DOLPHIN follows the Atto 3 and the Sealion 7 which were BYD’s first two models introduced in South Korea. The DOLPHIN hatchback functions as a compact vehicle which includes a 2,700 mm wheelbase. The design of the vehicle enables it to accommodate five people. The cargo capacity increases to 1,310 liters when the rear seats are folded which makes it suitable for both daily activities and brief excursions.
BYD is offering two versions of the DOLPHIN which include the standard DOLPHIN and the DOLPHIN Active. The Active version generates greater power output which equals 204 horsepower. The vehicle can achieve a speed of 100 km/h from a complete stop in approximately 7 seconds. The car can operate for 354 kilometers on a single full charge because of BYD’s battery technology. The battery system reaches 80 percent capacity after 30 minutes of fast charging.
The car includes a touchscreen display which measures 10.1 inches. The system enables wireless connection to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with T Map Navigation which has widespread use in Korea. The V2L (Vehicle to Load) function serves as an essential function for users. The system enables users to power external devices which transform the car into a mobile power generator.
The base DOLPHIN costs 24.5 million won before subsidies while the DOLPHIN Active costs 29.2 million won after tax benefits. The nationwide test drives and sales will commence on February 11 while Active model deliveries will start next month.
