The Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker BYD – short for Build Your Dreams – has officially opened its doors in South Africa, becoming the first manufacturer to launch in the country with exclusively EVs in its portfolio.
The first model coming our way is the battery-powered Atto 3 crossover, which will be available in a standard trim with a price of R768,000 and an extended-range trim priced at R835,000, each accompanied by a 5-year/100,000km warranty and service plan.
This makes the BYD one of the most affordable EVs in the country, in third place behind the Mini Cooper SE and GWM Ora.
Atto 3 specifications
Driving the Atto 3 is a single electric motor on the front axle generating a respectable 150kW and 310Nm, connected to either a 50kWh or 60kWh battery pack, depending on the chosen model.
The smaller battery supports a maximum DC charging speed of 70kW, whereas the bigger one accepts an 80kW current.
As electric cars do, the BYD gets up to 100km/h in a relatively brisk 7.3 seconds and it supplies a range of 345km for the standard version and up to 420km for the extended-range trim.
With a 7kW AC home charger, the EV replenishes 100% in approximately 10 hours and 15 minutes with the largest battery pack, and the maximum 80kW plug brings the same level of charge in 80 minutes.
One of the BYD’s more notable abilities, it also supports a vehicle-to-load (VTOL) mobile power supply function that transforms it into a “super mobile power bank” that provides bi-directional charging up to 3.3kW for devices and appliances when there is an electricity outage.
This will be the first EV on our roads to offer this ability, which is fast becoming a must-have for future EVs such as the Kia EV6 and Volvo EX90.
Buyers of the new BYD can further expect a well-rounded suite of equipment.
Standard kit consists of a 5-inch digital driver’s cluster, climate control, a panoramic sunroof, a multifunction steering wheel, heated and electric front seats, keyless entry and start, a one-touch tailgate, 360-view cameras, and a 12.8-inch rotating display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation, and online music streaming.
The Atto additionally provides adaptive LED lights, 18-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, hill-descent control, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warnings, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, front and rear collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, and seven airbags, giving it a 5-star Ancap safety rating.
The EV also offers 310 litres of boot space with the spare tyre fitted, which can be expanded to 1,340 litres with the rear seats down, and it comes in at 4,455mm long, 1,875mm wide, and 1,615mm tall.
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