New BYD Seagull in China to charge to 70% in five minutes — InsideEVs

Chinese automaker BYD is preparing the second generation of the compact Seagull electric vehicle, which is sold on the European market under the name Dolphin Surf. The new model will be larger, more powerful and will receive an 800-volt battery with fast-charging technology, InsideEVs reports.

Larger body and rear-wheel drive

The new Seagull will be 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide and 1,570 mm high. Compared with the previous version, the body has been lengthened by 425 mm, while the wheelbase has been increased by 150 mm to 2,650 mm. The cabin will have five seats instead of four.

The electric vehicle will receive a rear electric motor producing 127 horsepower, while the previous model had a 73-horsepower front motor. The switch to rear-wheel drive also made it possible to fit a front trunk. An independent multi-link suspension will be installed on the rear axle instead of a torsion beam, and the car will be equipped with 16-inch wheels with 205 mm-wide tires.

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Two batteries and fast charging

The new Seagull will be equipped with lithium iron phosphate batteries with capacities of 30 kWh or 39.2 kWh. BYD says the battery can be charged to 70% in five minutes and to 97% in nine minutes.

The base version's range under the Chinese CLTC cycle will be 320 km, while the version with the larger battery will have a range of 420 km. According to the publication's estimate, this roughly corresponds to 225 km and 295 km under the U.S. EPA cycle. A lidar-based driver assistance system and a large central infotainment display will also be available for the model.

The current BYD Seagull in China costs approximately from $10,000. The manufacturer has not yet disclosed the price of the new generation or clarified whether the updated model will appear on the European market.