One of the biggest news to the average man who is unable to own a tesla, the BYD Atto 3 has launched and it actually felt good sitting in it. Having be able to experience the car at the launch, I have to say that this car was worth heading down for a test drive. More information below that matters in my opinion!
Charging Options
With most EVs and Singapore infrastructure following American standard, this car boosts a cool side port Type 2 + CCS combo which will fit well into Singapore’s EV charging network. No worries if you are thinking about increasing your charging options. However if you are a second hand buyer, a fast charging option on a vehicle may lead to it be charged frequently with CCS instead of Type 2 which is better for the battery in the long term.
Vehicle Range / Battery
With the media team trying to explain its e-platform 3.0 + blade battery technology in great detail, I’m sure it is something that they can be proud of. With a battery capacity of 60.5kWh, it is definitely a bigger battery than my Nissan Leaf of 40kWh.
However I would say that without testing the car for a longer period to see its actual range capability, I will not be able to judge its useful range in this post. All I could say is that it will definitely drive more than 300km (practical) as my Nissan Leaf is able to give about 230km.
On paper, it was given a 480km (NEDC) range. If you do not understand these range testing method, have a read here on the NEDC range testing method in another post.
Power
With 150kW of power it is more powerful than my EV, this also meant that the road tax on this beast is higher than my Nissan Leaf. I am already paying road tax that is almost S$1,260/yr for my 80kW electric motor, I wonder how much will an Atto 3’s road tax costs.
Road Tax
Using Land Transport Authority’s online road tax calculator, this car is actually going for S$1,796! I would say this could be the biggest drawback for an average driver. I would really hope that the authority will lower the tax required for EVs to be running on the road soon.
Unique Features
This car has an amazing exterior no doubt but the most interesting features that this car has will amaze you. I would dare say that this car is designed really well for the practical driver. Forget about using your phone to unlock the car, this car gives you Vehicle to Load capability which in my opinion would be really useful feature. You can camp outdoors and still enjoy a cold drink anywhere.
Another feature notable is its safety features. With front and rear collision sensors that could brake automatically in an emergency and adaptive cruise control, this car has my favorite safety features which I would highly recommend EV drivers.
Price
The price of the car is coming in at S$178,888 (listed) and is a good alternative for my Nissan Leaf coming in at S$164,800 (listed). Of course, you should try bargaining with the guys before making the decision to purchase. I would certainly regret I did not bargain for a better price of my car.
