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BYD Dolphin

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Updated 19-Nov-2024

Sometimes there is a confluence of innovations, both technological, and economic, which conspire to prompt a purchase. Now it is that time for me, concerning the 2024 BYD Dolphin Standard Range.

Contents
Features of the BYD Dolphin
Color and Trim
Thailand EV market
Global EV growth
Hacking BYD

Features of the BYD Dolphin

  • Cheap at 569,900 THB ($17,000 USD), 25% deposit gets 2% interest for 4 years
    • This is highly discounted, even since January 2024 when it was 130,000 THB more expensive.
    • Note that prices in the UK and elsewhere are much more expensive (twice as much in the UK)
  • Decent range (Thailand standard range has 50.25 kWh battery, 340-430 km range)
  • Overall decent design
  • 160,000 km / 8 year warranty
  • Uses the BYD Blade battery design (safe)
  • Overall good size (especially for town car), slightly upsized from China version, to cross the B (subcompact) to C (compact) model.
  • Compares well with 1978 Volvo 244 DL (my previous excellent city / family car)
    • Shorter than the Volvo by 7cm, slightly wider, slightly taller, slightly lower
    • 95bhp vs. 92bhp in the Volvo
    • 10.5 m vs. 9.8 m (fantastic Volvo turning radius)
    • 195/60R16 in the Dolphin compared with 195/60R15 wheels and tires
  • PM 2.5 system included
  • Multiple USB-C and USB-A ports
  • Android auto
  • Large 12" screen + 5" screen
  • Included V2L / V2H adapter to power external devices (using an extension cable)
  • In Thailand, the 50.25 kWh battery is 10.6% larger than the previous standard 44.9 kWh

It may seem a bit odd comparing a 2024 (2021 model) vehicle with a 1978 (1974 model) vehicle (the models being 47 years apart). However, human and transit ergonomics haven't changed at all in 50 years. Therefore, a smaller turning radius is great for making U-turns now and in the past, same with width, length, etc. Indeed, modern car and truck manufacturing would have us believe that roads are widening a centimeter every two years. Madness. Indeed the 170cm Volvo vs. 177cm of the BYD Dolphin is somewhat concerning (and a turning radius of 10.5m vs. 9.8m). Even the electric Mini is 172cm wide, making it (as a mini) quite large. Yes, perhaps some safety and crumple zone issues require the widening of a car, though not to an extreme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqb7JPjFUew

Color and Trim

  • White is both the most popular color and also is safer in terms of accident risk (dark colors correlate with more accidents), and therefore is the safer choice (accident and resale-wise).
  • Standard Trim with Standard Range is the best priced model and therefore trumps other considerations (though the upscale version with all-glass retractible sunroof, and the doubling of horsepower, would be nice, it isn't necessary or worth the additional cost).

Thailand EV market

  • In 2023, 12% of vehicles sold were EVs, with the first quarter of 2024 seeing that rise to 15%. BYD is the largest brand (selling more than second and third place combined), with Neta, MG, Tesla, and Great Wall (Ora) rounding out the top 5 in sales.
  • Thailand is 10th in the world for vehicle production and first in Southeast Asia. Government incentives and relative financial stability has encouraged increasing investment into Thailand with a large local market and export-friendliness into ASEAN and Europe.
  • Huge amount of investments in car and battery manufacturing in Thailand, by the likes of Mercedes, BMW, and a slew of Chinese manufacturers with Japanese and Koreans currently following suit. Isuzu will be manufacturing an electric 1-ton truck in 2025.

Global EV growth

  • January, 2023 worldwide sales of EVs reached 10% of all automotive. This is set to quadruple by 2030.
  • While a rising tide can lift all boats, the antics of the Tesla CEO certainly hasn't done them any favors. Nevertheless, quality at Tesla is on the wane, competition is waxing, and an aged line-up are all having some effect. Personally, I would never buy a Tesla (even though I was a fan for a long time) as the boorishness is simply too much.
    • Any prudent brand considering any Tesla partnership has to take Musk’s massively amplified, highly politicized, capricious and arbitrary behavior, which sometimes veers into hate speech, into account. -- Producers of Blade Runner 2049 sue Elon Musk -- Apparently, even those creating distopian landscapes find Musk too much.

Hacking BYD