BYD’s unbridled expansion in Australia is set to include vans, as the Chinese carmaker continues to court fleet buyers searching for affordable and hassle-free hybrid tech.
Speaking to the launch of the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in Melbourne last month, Australian importer EV Direct CEO David Smitherman, revealed his intention to enter the hotly-contested van markets currently dominated by the Toyota HiAce in the mid-sized sector and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in the large class.
“We've had significant interest from fleets around (the BYD Shark 6),” Smitherman said.
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“And also vans as well…. the product portfolio will be extensive.
“At a (van show) in Europe, a BYD van was talked about and absolutely we see that in the future.”
The van in question is the E-Vali, a full-sized purpose-built electric vehicle (EV) light-commercial vehicle that BYD says has been designed specifically for international appeal, especially European buyers.
To that end, it debuted at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover, Germany, in September, and sales are expected to commence sometime during 2025.
For the time being, buyers will have a choice of two body shapes.
The smaller E-Vali is rated at 3.5-tonne, with length/width/height/wheelbase dimensions of 5995/2096/2780/3865mm, respectively, while a 4.25-tonne model’s length stretches a full metre to 6995mm and its wheelbase jumps to 4550mm.
Maximum cargo capacity is an impressive 17.9 cubic metres and the payload cap is 1450kg.
Two powertrain choices will be available: a single-motor rear drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive. Top speeds are capped to 90km/h or 120km/h, depending on specification.
Using BYD’s Blade Battery tech, the E-Vali features an 80.64kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack that can be replenished from 10-80 per cent in half an hour if you find a fast-enough DC charger.
WLTP range is between 220km and 250km depending on which size is chosen.
Not much else is known about the E-Vali, except that it offers a full suite of advanced driver-assist safety techs including AEB and lane-support systems, while vehicle-to-load (V2L) appliance/tools-charging capability will also be made available.
BYD is also talking up the E-Vali’s comfort, ergonomics and versatility, with wide apertures to ease loading, folding seats to boost capacity and full-standing room inside.
This wouldn’t be the first van that BYD has offered in Australia.
One of its earliest models to make it here was the T3, a compact EV van with a very low starting price. A 70kW/180Nm electric motor drove the front wheels, top speed was just 100km/h, range from a 49.2kWh battery was about 200km and payload was rated at 700kg.
Only a handful were brought here in year prior to the Atto 3 EV’s incredibly successful debut in 2022.
