BYD is bringing plug-in hybrid power to the supermini sector with its new Dolphin G DM-i, a compact hatchback that could give buyers a cheaper way into electric driving without having to rely on charging for every journey.
The new model will sit alongside the all-electric BYD Dolphin Surf, which currently costs from £18,675 to £23,975, and below the brand’s other small plug-in hybrid, the Atto 2 DM-i SUV, which starts at £26,995.
BYD has not announced prices for the Dolphin G DM-i yet, but given its position between those two models, a starting figure of around £23,000 would make sense when it reaches the UK.
Unlike the Dolphin Surf, which runs on electricity alone, the plug-in hybrid Dolphin G DM-i combines an electric motor with a petrol engine and a battery that can be plugged in and charged. That means shorter everyday journeys can be completed on electric power, while the petrol engine is there for longer trips.
BYD says the Dolphin G DM-i will be the only supermini in Europe to offer plug-in hybrid technology. Full details of its battery size, electric-only range and performance have not yet been revealed, although the company says the car will be capable of more than 621 miles on a full battery and a full tank of petrol.
The entry-level Atto 2 DM-i has a 7.8kWh battery and a 1.5-litre petrol engine, with an electric-only range of up to 31 miles. With petrol and battery power combined, BYD claims a total range of 577 miles for the Atto 2. The Dolphin G could use similar technology, but in a smaller and more efficient car it will go further.
At 4,160mm long and 1,825mm wide, the Dolphin G sits neatly in the supermini class occupied by cars such as the Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris and Vauxhall Corsa. BYD is also promising what it describes as family-car levels of practicality, although boot space and interior measurements will be confirmed closer to launch.
The Dolphin G DM-i is significant for BYD for another reason: it is the first car the Chinese manufacturer has developed specifically for overseas markets, including Europe, rather than adapting an existing model already sold at home.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said: “The European B-segment is one of the most important parts of the market, and with Dolphin G DM-i, we want to redefine what customers can expect from a compact car in the electric era. By bringing long electric range, intelligent hybrid technology and advanced digital features into an accessible compact vehicle, we are making sustainable mobility smarter, more practical and available to many more people across Europe.”
BYD says the Dolphin G DM-i will be launched fully in June, with the first customer cars expected towards the end of the summer or into the autumn. UK pricing, equipment levels and full technical details will be announced nearer the time.
