Symbolically: one country is trying to arrange a “blackout” of another – as if dragging it into the gasoline past and not taking into account that the electric future is already coming. Including thanks to such electric cars as BYD e2: relatively mass, inexpensive, universal. Some kind of “people’s golden mean”? Now let’s try to figure it out.
BYD e2 positioning
The BYD e2 electric car is a traditional C-class 5-door hatchback that debuted in 2019. But it did not make its debut alone, paired with the related BYD e3 sedan: thus, a mini-family of electric cars from China was formed before us.
Two models – one family: hatchback BYD e2 and sedan BYD e3 leave no doubt about their kinship. Both debuted in 2019, both are electric cars, both belong to the C-class. A hatchback came to us BYD e2 – we will get to know him.
How the BYD e2 electric car drives
Unhurried and quite soft. The acceleration dynamics of the BYD e2 electric car are quite enough for the city, even without excess. Acceleration is convenient to control, which is traditional for electric cars. All responses and acceleration processes are easily predicted, and two additional modes (“eco” and “sport”) logically make acceleration more measured or more active. I would say that the main point is not so much acceleration as recuperation and the logic of its management. There is no button/selector to quickly switch between standard and more active recovery. In general, there are such settings, but they are hidden deep in the menu.
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Now the second point is soft. The chassis really provides very good comfort, successfully absorbing small and large bumps. Plus, the suspension works quietly, without extraneous noises or knocks. Although in general, the sound insulation of the BYD e2 electric car can still be improved: sounds from the street are noticeable, the rustling of tires can be heard. Finally, a few words about management. The steering wheel here is “long” (about three turns from stop to stop), reactions to the turn are normal, but the roll of the electric car is relatively small – after all, it is a traditional low hatchback without any cross additions in height.
By the way, about the hatchback body: I personally like the design BYD e2 resembles passenger cars SEAT – pointed headlights and side lines, solid rear light with narrow lines. However, it is an electric car by nature BYD e2 is not “spirited”, but “quiet”: it prefers softness both in acceleration and suspension work. Format charging ports GB/T located in different parts of the body: one – at the rear in the wing; the second is in the front panel, which imitates a radiator grille. Acceleration to “hundred” takes more than 19 seconds, but pay attention to the initial set of speed up to 50-60 km/h – there is enough dynamics in the city.
In a word, on the road, the BYD e2 electric car does not try to “let dust into the eyes”, but tries to do well what is within its capabilities. So it turned out in the cabin as well. There is no bright lighting or a lot of decor. But there is a strict front panel made of hard plastic and good seats with the usual “European” profile. The central console is stylishly designed: a “washer” and several control buttons are placed on a separate pedestal, and below there is an armrest and a “transformer” niche.
However, small remarks are enough. The steering wheel does not have enough adjustments, which is why you have to move the seat from the optimal settings that I just found. Part of the markings are made with hieroglyphs – either localization-translation or neutral symbols are required. There is no lighting on the second row of seats and in the trunk, but a pair of speakers would not hurt – to create stereo sound in the cabin.
Similar to the exterior, the interior is neatly and succinctly made. Ahead, there were a lot of interesting points to praise: a center console, full-size seats with a normal profile, a couple of colorful displays, even a touch-sensitive interior light switch. Flaws are minimal – a steering wheel with a limited range of adjustments and character designations. There are many more comments on the back of the cabin and the trunk: they ask for more light and sound, they ask for niches for small things. Although globally, everything is not bad – there is enough space for passengers, a large loading opening of the luggage compartment, normal upholstery.
Are there innovations in the BYD e2 model
From the point of view of the automotive world with traditional gasoline or diesel engines, any electric car today can still be considered an innovation. From the point of view of the world of electric cars, the BYD e2 hatchback simply corresponds to its time and class.
So, we have a 5-door hatchback in front of us, an independent suspension is used in the front, a regular beam is installed in the back, front-wheel drive and one electric motor, the battery is installed in the bottom of the body. If you want details, the synchronous electric motor is coded TZ180XSB (70 kW or 95 hp and 180 Nm), and the lithium-ion (LiFePO4) traction battery offers a useful capacity of 43.2 kWh.
In general, the traditional design for electric cars of this class: one electric motor, front-wheel drive, battery in the lower part of the body. By the way, in the technical documentation for the electric car, you can find two versions of the model BYD e2, which differ in batteries: their nominal capacity is 35.2 or 47.3 kWh – it seems that the “older” version has arrived.
The price of the BYD e2 electric car and its competitors
At the time of preparation of this material, one version of the BYD e2 electric car was presented in Ukraine – as a test specimen. The equipment is as follows: front airbags, ABS and ESP systems, a rearview camera, cruise control, an instrument panel based on an 8-inch display, a central touch screen 10-inch display, electric windows and mirrors, etc. Price BYD e2 – from $19,000.
At the same time, the BYD e2 LUXURY version was announced with an expanded list of equipment: seats decorated with eco-leather, added LED headlights and light-alloy wheels. But the price tag for BYD e2 LUXURY has not yet been formed.
Strange features of the configuration: a plastic steering wheel, ordinary halogen headlights, only two front speakers – but also large color displays in the cabin, a rearview camera, opening the central lock without a key (by button). We are waiting for the expansion of available versions of the electric car. Who are the competitors?
First, of course, this is the current generation Nissan LEAF. After all, the BYD e2 hatchback tries to be its analogue – class and size, battery and range – but 1.5 times cheaper. And this is a very noticeable difference in price! On the other hand: when you study and drive a Nissan LEAF, you clearly understand WHY it is 1.5 times more expensive.
Secondly, the competitor named DongFeng E11K is a radically opposite example. Nominally, the DongFeng E11K wins in terms of battery size and trunk capacity. However, in reality, against its background, the BYD e2 electric car is perceived as a much more perfect product, as if from a radically new era.
Just two competing examples. But these are very illustrative examples – they are enough to understand the market situation surrounding the electric car BYD e2: it is inferior to well-known competitors (but significantly cheaper than them), it wins over other “Chinese” (at a comparable price).
Energy consumption and real range of BYD e2
My minimum energy consumption in the city was about 12.8-13 kWh per 100 km – this gives the same promised 405 km of mileage on one full charge of the battery. But it is worth turning on the interior heater or air conditioner, you just need to allow yourself to “step” on the pedal – and the energy consumption increases to the mark of 15-16 kWh per 100 km of travel. Now it turns out that you can drive only 260-280 km on a full battery. True, as often happens, somewhere in the middle: at the mark of 300-330 kilometers.
But it’s in the city. Because on the track at a speed of 100-110 km/h, energy consumption increases so much that each kilometer driven requires taking almost two kilometers off the range meter: count on 150-200 km on one full charge of the battery. Want to drive more? Then I advise you to move on the highway just a little faster than the city pace: at a speed of 70 km/h, everything returns to normal – for every 1 km of the odometer, you can drive 1 km in reality, together try to cover 300 km on one full charge. Slow but far.
In the end: BYD e2 electric car for 20 thousand – is it worth it?
Yes, it costs about $20,000 (even $19,000 today). I note: it is not even worth $25,000. But about $20,000 is enough. The BYD e2 electric car is really “not enough stars from the sky”, there are small flaws here, you need to understand the official status of the model in our country. But the BYD e2 electric car has potential and prospects in Ukraine: it does not try to deceive expectations, but looks and is perceived exactly as it is in reality – a relatively mass, affordable, modern Chinese electric car “for every day”. And he copes well with this role.
Pros:
Traditional C-class hatchback – usual dimensions, calm design
The front part of the cabin is well done
Comfortable suspension, soft ride
Cons:
The dynamics of acceleration to “hundreds” is weak, although it is enough in the city
Localization, supply stability, maintenance planning, range expansion are needed.
Specifications BYD e2
Body – hatchback, 5 doors, 5 seats
Dimensions – 4.24 x 1.76 x 1.53 m
The wheelbase is 2.61 m
The minimum equipped weight (approximate) is 1470 kg
The engine is a synchronous electric motor
Power – 70 kW or 95 liters.
The torque is 180 Nm
Specific power and torque – 65 hp. per 1 ton, 122 Nm per 1 ton
The drive is front-wheel drive
The transmission is a single-stage gearbox
The maximum speed (approximately) is 130 km/h
The nominal capacity of the battery is 47.3 kWh
The used battery capacity is 43.2 kWh
The declared driving range (NEDC) is 405 km.
Tires of the test car are LingLong CrossWind HP 010 205/60 R16
The minimum price of the car is from $19,000.
