Compact hatch positioning below BYD’s sole present offer, the Atto 3.

MARKET competitive pricing has continued with the second electric car from China’s BYD, the Dolphin, but some advocates are unimpressed.

A 45kW edition will sit at $49,990 and a higher specification 60kW extended range model will cost $55,990, orders opening on June 5 and test drives availing in August, according to information the brand has shared.

The means the hatchback seems set to bump out the MG ZS as the cheapest new electric here, providing it achieves a good enough crash test rating.

It sets up the Dolphin to position as a more budget alternate to the car that started the brand’s presence here last year, the Atto 3.

The latter sells in two specifications respectively pricing at just over $50,000 and just under $54,000 when the Government’s current Clean Car rebate is applied.

In respect to fully electric cars that have eligibility - the basics being they cost less than $80,000 and get at least three stars on cash testing from the national accreditor - that accommodation reduces from $8625 to $7015 from July 1. With it the new car will still be less money than BYD’s first product. However, the incoming MG4 could be a thorn, as it has a more powerful drivetrain and is only $2000 more expensive.

Electric vehicle owners, commenting via a popular Facebook group, also seems largely unimpressed, pointing out the car holds a lower price in some other export locations.

However, that might be a circumstance that also transpires in respect to the other news about Dolphin.

This is that the export car has been redesigned - never a cheap exercise - to become more than 20cm longer than Chinese versions, in order to accomodate a new front-end crash structure claimed to be designed for a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The BYD hatchback features BYD’s blade batteries. The 60kWh battery pack is also unique to the export car. The model in China restricts to taking the 45kWh units also coming here and a even smaller battery, with 30.7kWh output.

Driving range with the 60kWh pack in European WLTP testing – which is conducted in a laboratory, but is more realistic than China's CLTC test protocols – is rated at 427km. The 44.9kWh pack claims 340km on WLTP.

On May 9 the Australian website, Drive.com.au, said the car has been upgraded for this part of the world with the aim of meeting a five-star crash-test score from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP), whose tests New Zealand part-funds and whose score have priority here.

The website says BYD claims the new front end – with a longer nose and restyled bumper – was designed for the Australian market first, but it will also be offered on European versions, which have similar Euro NCAP independent safety targets.

Specifications published in Europe show the updated Dolphin will measure 4290mm long, 1770mm wide and 1570mm tall, riding on a 2700mm wheelbase.

That makes it identical in width, height and wheelbase but 220mm longer than the Chinese-market model, which measures 4070mm long.

The model will not have any more interior passenger or boot space than the Chinese version – as the extra length is not between the front and rear wheel axles.

Another BYD, the Seal sedan, is also expected to release here this year. An example of that car is expected to be displayed at the National Feildays at Mystery Creek on June 14-17.