Compact crossovers currently dominate the European market. The Chinese BYD doesn’t want to miss its share either with the new Atto 2. It will come to our market in two plug-in hybrid and electric versions and it looks like it really has a lot to offer.

You have already read about it on our website, but there will be more to come, so we will define it a little at the beginning: NEV, i.e. “New Energy Vehicles”, in Czech “vehicles with a new drive”. As a rule, cars whose propulsion relies primarily on electricity, no matter how it got there, are usually referred to as such. This means battery electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars or cars with fuel cells, for example hydrogen.

In China, NEVs have long formed a separate category and its global king is the BYD brand, overall the third largest car manufacturer today. The novelty called Atto 2 is such a big deal: a NEV category car from the masters of the field, moreover in the most popular segment in Europe. We would have expected it to be visually striking,but the Atto 2 gets lost even in the unusually boring Barcelona traffic.

BYD Atto 2: A Safe, But unremarkable Newcomer

The BYD Atto 2 hits our streets in a big way. It doesn’t provoke anything and copies almost every current design trend: there is a “floating” roof, mandatory cladding of fenders and sills, drop-shaped headlights and an unnecessarily complex rear light signature that tries to disrupt the conservative look a little. We also know cars with a more distinctive identity, but the Atto 2 can’t bother anyone with anything.

It is indeed similar in the interior, which is purely Chinese. Today, however, this dose not mean wild design and low quality, quite the opposite – the entirely conservative environment is made of high-quality plastics and carefully processed, typically for the brand there is a large and thick steering wheel with a flattening below. We appreciate the unusually vertical windshield and solid view from the cabin, which (slightly) reminds us of a mobile greenhouse named Subaru Forester.

BYD Atto 2: A New Contender with Czech Ties

The BYD Atto 2 is making waves as it prepares for its European debut, and interestingly, it has ties to the Czech Republic. Production for the European market will be handled at the BYD plant in Kunshan, China, but components and potentially some assembly work are expected to involve Czech suppliers. This strategic move highlights the growing interconnectedness of the automotive industry and BYD’s commitment to establishing a strong European presence.

When the Atto 2 arrived in asian markets about a year ago, it had a 12.8″ rotating infotainment display. The Europeanized version has a fixed one, because it is saeid that the function was needless for customers (who would have thought that?). Apart from it, there is also an 8.8″ instrument panel and a camera for monitoring the driver’s attention in the A-pillar, which we acknowledge. We also like the 50W wireless phone charging in the center panel, as the gear shift is done with a lever on the right under the steering wheel. There is plenty of space in the front, thanks to the vertical seating and the 2620 mm wheelbase, too, but it won’t be the most cozy on longer routes. The trunk will offer 450/1370 l for the most powerful electric version, 400/1340 l for the weaker EV and 425/1335 l for the plug-in hybrid.

Under current

There will be two forms of drive, even four versions. The Atto 2 electric car will be the frist to be available in the Active and Boost versions with a 45.1kWh battery and the highest electric motor output of 130 kW and 290 Nm. Design specifics here are the rear torsion bar and slower DC charging with a maximum output of 65 kW. In addition to this specification, there will be a more attractive version with a 64.8 kWh battery, 150 kW power and 310 Nm torque. In addition to a larger battery, the Blade will also offer charging up to 155 kW DC, and especially a range of up to 430 km according to WLTP compared to 312 km of the weaker variant.Against it, it also has a larger trunk thanks to the multi-element rear suspension.However, both versions have AC charging with 11 kilowatts.

The plug-in hybrid will certainly be more interesting for us. it is indeed also available in two versions,both with McPherson struts at the front and a torsion bar at the rear. They differ in battery, i.e. power, range and weight. The weaker Active version received 7.8kWh LFP cells, giving the car an electric range of 40 km according to the WLTP and 930 km in total. It is driven forward by a combination of a fifteen-liter engine with 72 kW and 122 Nm and a traction electric motor with 145 kW and 300 Nm. The maximum combined power

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the more powerful version is already a bit more generous to the driver with a combined output of 156 kW, 18.0 kWh battery capacity and a purely electric range of 90 km, with the help of the petrol unit up to 1000 km. You can charge the weaker version with a 3.3 kW AC charger in 2.7 hours, the stronger version in three hours with a power of 6.6 kW. All versions other than the basic PHEV will offer the V2L function with a maximum output of 3.3 kW.

And we were able to try out the most powerful plug-in in the vicinity of barcelona. The Atto 2 is an honest car – its looks match the way it drives. So we get into the high but comfortable driver’s seat and close the door with a loud sound. After starting, typically for PHEVs, nothing happens, atypically for many, nothing happens even with vigorous acceleration. with a maximum power more than twice as high, the electric motor usually does not need the combustion engine for acceleration at all, it only switches it on when it has no juice – or at high speeds. On the highway, the whirring of the naturally aspirated 1500 with a thermal efficiency of 43.03% is already a little noticeable, it is indeed also awakened by the use of the Sport mode. Then an internal combustion engine is added to the system via a clutch and permanent transmission, so the dri

BYD and Ionity Partner to Bring Megawatt Charging to Europe

BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, and Ionity, a leading European high-power charging network, announced a partnership to deploy a network of megawatt charging stations across Europe. This collaboration aims to address the growing demand for faster charging solutions as electric vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks, become more prevalent.

The charging stations will deliver up to 360kW of power, significantly reducing charging times for electric vehicles. This is a crucial step towards enabling long-haul electric trucking and supporting the electrification of commercial fleets.Currently, many electric trucks require several hours to fully charge using conventional charging infrastructure.

BYD will contribute its expertise in battery technology and charging infrastructure advancement, while Ionity will leverage its existing network and experience in operating high-power charging stations across Europe. the initial rollout will focus on key transportation corridors in Germany,France,the Netherlands,Belgium,and the UK.

“This partnership with Ionity is a vital step in our commitment to building a comprehensive electric ecosystem,” stated a BYD spokesperson. “Megawatt charging is essential for the widespread adoption of electric commercial vehicles, and we are excited to work with Ionity to make this a reality.”

Ionity’s CEO added, “We are pleased to partner with BYD, a global leader in electric vehicle technology. Together, we can accelerate the deployment of high-power charging infrastructure and support the transition to a sustainable transportation future.”

The companies plan to expand the network further in the coming years, with a goal of establishing a widespread megawatt charging infrastructure across Europe.This initiative will play a key role in facilitating the decarbonization of the transportation sector and achieving Europe’s climate goals.