Australia has a new contender for the cheapest EV on the market, in the guise of the BYD Atto 3, priced from under $45,000 before incentives but after on-road fees, and slated for first deliveries in July.
The latest player on the Australia EV market was unveiled at an event in Sydney on Saturday, with retired Socceroo champ Tim Cahill throwing his weight behind China’s leading EV maker as an investor and integral part of the management team.
At the same time, full pricing and specifications for the Atto 3 were revealed online. Starting at $44,900 in Tasmania and ranging upwards to $47,931.54 in Western Australia, the Atto 3 will cost $42,778.35 in NSW once the $3,000 rebate is taken into account.
There are two variants available, with a 50kWh battery for the Superior model which has 320km (WLTP) driving range, and a 60kWh battery with 420 (WLTP) driving range for the Superior extended-range model. As with all BYD vehicles, both will feature a Blade battery which the company says it has tested as the safest battery on the market.
Luke Todd, CEO of EV Direct which will import at least seven BYD electric car models to Australia by 2024, would not indicate how many registrations of interest have been taken so far, but indicated that within 48 hours there were enough on the books to catapult the Atto 3 to number two on the EV sales ladder when it arrives.
The Atto 3 was unveiled alongside a smaller electric hatchback known in China as the Dolphin. Todd also confirmed with The Driven that the market-busting electric hatchback likely to be dubbed the Atto 2 will arrive by the end of 2022.
While pricing for the electric hatch is yet to be confirmed, it is expected to cost under $30,000.
Until then, the Atto 3 will hold the title of cheapest EV on the market – at least until we know more about the 2023 MG ZS EV which is due to arrive in mid-2022 with a facelift and choice of two batteries.
Also revealed during the Atto 3 launch was the fact that all BYD models will come with a vehicle-to-load (V2L, or VtoL) mobile adaptor, providing full access to the car’s battery. “It’s great for things like picnics, you’re basically carrying around a huge generator so it’s also great for trades,” Todd tells The Driven.
Both variants come with a single motor on the front axle, delivering 310Nm torque, 150kW from the motor, and acceleration from 0-100km/hr in 7.3 seconds.
The BYD Atto 3 will be able to charge at a maximum rate of 60kW on DC fast chargers, which will mean a charge time of one hour from 0-100% on the large battery option. Charging on AC can be done at a maximum rate of 7kW, and the car comes with a standard 220v cable as standard for charging at home.
Inside, two-tone upholstery with accent stitching and ambient lighting give the Atto 3 a premium look and feel. In the front, there is a leather look steering wheel and dash with at-hand knobs and dials, and drink holders in the centre console as well a large storage space. A rotating touchscreen on the dash enables access to the car’s controls in either portrait or landscape format.
A 60-40 split for the back seats ensures flexibility of space, while an electronic sunroof is a welcome (and rare these days) addition. There’s also plenty of head room in the back.
While only a left-hand-drive model was available at the launch, Todd says 50 units are already being manufactured for shipping to Australia ahead of test drives in June. Drivers can indicate interest at the EV Direct website by putting down a $1,000 fully-refundable deposit.
For a look inside the Atto 3 and exterior walk around, as well as a look at the “Atto 2”, check out Tesla Tom’s video below:
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.