3 Months with the BYD Sea Lion 06 PHEV

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Though there are some who object to plugin hybrid electrical autos (PHEVs), preferring to go the complete BEV route, I consider that PHEVs nonetheless have a spot within the electrical automobile ecosystem. That is ably demonstrated by Garry’s expertise with the primary BYD Sea Lion 06 bought in Queensland. In brief, he drives it like a BEV — as it’s designed to do. Garry attended our “Espresso, Cake and EVs” morning and I used to be eager to listen to his story.

In searching for his first EV, Garry solely had a selection of two — it was both the unknown Chinese language model “Construct Your Desires” (BYD) or the established Japanese model Mitsubishi. A Sea Lion 06 or an Outlander. Testing the specs and the costs, it was a simple selection. He discovered that the know-how and consumption for each vehicles have been related. They each get 1.5 L of petrol consumption per 100 km pushed, with about 90 km of battery vary on a full cost. He drove them each and located that that they had the “identical quantity of grunt.” They have been each effectively capable of meet his driving and towing wants.

However what a value distinction! The Mitsubishi would have set the veteran pensioner again AU$75,000, whereas he bought the Sea Lion 06 for simply AU$48,000. That’s a AU$27,000 distinction. He may have gotten himself one other automobile! Majella and I take a look at drove the Sea Lion 06 when it launched in June. You can read about it here. In fact, it’s higher to speak to somebody with the real-world expertise of driving the automobile for a number of months. Due to his struggle service pension, Garry doesn’t pay the Federal Items and Companies Tax or Stamp Responsibility. This saved him about $7,000. Garry served in Vietnam.

BYD vehicles are literally changing into a typical sight round Brisbane. Garry tells me: “I used to be seeing these BYDs round city, then there was an increasing number of so I googled it and thought ‘Shit it is a good automobile.’” Garry went to his nearest gross sales centre and put $1000 down regardless that they didn’t have one in inventory but. Sight unseen, no take a look at drive. He bought to do a take a look at drive two weeks later on the BYD drive day on the finish of June. I requested him in regards to the gross sales expertise. “The salesperson was a younger child simply beginning out.” So many are on this quickly increasing area. You’ve bought to be taught quick. Garry says he has learnt a lot of the info he wanted from devoted Fb pages. “I be taught one thing new on a regular basis!”

He tells me the “younger child” knew an inexpensive quantity in regards to the automobile. At the moment Garry says he knew “bugger all.” By the point he did the take a look at drive, Garry’s thoughts was made up. Although, he would have most popular an extended take a look at drive on the open highway. He was impressed with the data on the BYD web site that said the economic system of the automobile. “After I go away dwelling to go to Ipswich, I’ve the battery on 100%. I can get there and again and it prices me nothing.” Garry drives his PHEV like a BEV!

He plugs his Sea Lion in daily. And sure, he has a 5kWh photo voltaic system on his roof. The automobile is charged throughout the photo voltaic peak. He makes positive it’s not plugged in after 4 pm when electrical energy costs peak. He tells me it takes about 5 hours to cost from a wall socket utilizing the granny charger supplied. He has learnt from Fb conversations that it’s higher to cost slowly regardless that BYD supplied a wall charger with the acquisition of the automobile.

He nonetheless has to place petrol within the automobile. His earlier automobile was a 2 L Hyundai Tucson Highlander. He describes it as high quality, however it “had no guts. The Sea Lion 06 beats it, I can’t consider how a lot energy this factor has bought!” The Tucson used to make use of about $60 value of petrol per week. Now Garry solely fills up the Sea Lion each 5 weeks.

Garry must tow and he was unable to suit a tow bar ready-made, because the automobile has solely simply arrived in Australia. He was contacted by Speedy Tow Bars with the supply to supply a tow bar if they may “borrow” has automobile for a few weeks for his or her improvement program. A spokesperson stated that they’re creating tow bars and becoming them to an rising numbers of EVs by their improvement program as a part of the manufacturing aspect of their enterprise. Their newest clients being the newly launched sensible vehicles from Mercedes.

The Sea Lion 06 Premium that Garry drives can tow 1700 kg. He has already tried it out and tells me “It handles like a dream!”

In fact, I requested the query … why a PHEV and never a BEV. Garry confides that he’s “apprehensive about working out of energy between cities.” To date, he has pushed the Sea Lion about 3000 km. I requested about his longest journey. It was to the Gold Coast — about 140 km from dwelling every method, a 280 km spherical journey. He set the battery for 25% so he may drive 70 km on battery, then the petrol motor kicks in throughout the drive to replenish the battery. When he arrived on the Gold Coast he had 25% battery capability. He charged up on Chargefox, which price $5.

See this CleanTechnica article for an evidence of the varied modes that the BYD Sea Lion gives.

Garry estimated that the entire journey price him the $5 in electrical energy and about $8 in petrol. “It might have price me over $30 within the Tucson!” I don’t know the way folks dwelling on a pension can afford to run fossil fuelled vehicles. The Sea Lion claims that it has 758 km vary within the petrol tank, plus battery vary.

Whereas charging on the Gold Coast, Garry had an amusing interplay with an Uber driver. The Uber driver had run his Tesla down to three% and was fairly eager to get some cost. There have been 4 folks lined as much as cost. Sadly, one other EV driver had plugged in and left the scene. Her automobile was already at 100%. The Uber driver requested Garry “What’s that factor you’re driving there.” Garry answered some questions and he stated: “Sea Lion, BYD, I’ve heard of these issues. That’s it, my Tesla’s going!”

Finally everybody was capable of cost up and be on their method. BYD intends to launch the Sea Lion 07 totally electrical automobile by the top of the 12 months. I hope Garry will get to strive it out and compares the 2 autos as a part of his journey of transition.