BYD has announced that it
will enter the European electric car market, albeit on a trial basis, by
launching the Tang EV600 in Norway later this year. The decision comes as the
company aims to expand its EV presence in Europe, with Norway being a good
starting point given the country’s encouraging demand for electric vehicles and
strong charging infrastructure.
The Tang, which is currently in its second
generation, first debuted at the Beijing Motor Show in 2018, and is offered
with petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains in its home country in
China. In China, the electric version of the SUV comes in two variants, with
the most powerful being dubbed the EV600D.
This features a dual-motor configuration
that serves up 482 hp and 660 Nm of torque, and the all-wheel drive
setup consists of an electric motor on both axles, each providing 241 hp and 330 Nm.
Meanwhile, the lesser EV600 variant
ditches the rear electric motor to become front-wheel drive only, with 241 hp and 330 Nm. In terms of performance, the EV600D takes 4.4 seconds to
get from zero to 100 km/h, while the EV600 requires 8.5 seconds. Both variants
are powered by an 82.8-kWh battery that supports fast charging, with a 30-80% state
of charge reached in just 30 minutes.
According to BYD, Norway will get the
all-wheel drive version of the Tang EV, which is capable of delivering a range
of up to 520 km. Detailed specifications, along with pricing, will be announced
at a later date.
Besides a foray into passenger cars, BYD
will bolster its presence in the commercial vehicle sector by introducing a
panel van, 7.5-tonne and 19-tonne rigid distribution trucks, and a yard
tractor. The company already has a well-established sales and supply network of
eBus and eCoach across Europe.
