BYD launches the new Song Ultra EV with fast charging and low prices

BYD released a new electric SUV that is making other car companies nervous. The new model is the Song Ultra EV and it belongs to the Dynasty family of cars from BYD. The car brings new technology to the table that makes driving and owning electric cars much easier. One of the biggest surprises is the price. The Song Ultra EV starts at RMB 151,900 - that is just under $22,000 at current exchange rates. This price is lower than what the company first said it would be, and people are clearly excited about the new EV - nearly 22,000 orders were placed in less than three weeks.

The new Song Ultra gets the second-generation Blade Battery, and drivers can choose between two different options. The smaller capacity battery delivers 376 miles of driving range before it needs to be topped up. The larger version can go as far as 441 miles. For most people, this means they can drive for several days without worrying about the battery running out of power.

Charging is usually the part people dread most about EVs - nobody wants to sit at a public charger for an hour waiting for a battery to fill up. BYD fixed this with "flash charging" technology - the Song Ultra EV can charge from 10% to 70% in only five minutes. If you want to get the battery almost full, it takes nine minutes to reach a 97% charge - about the same amount of time it takes to fill up a regular car with gasoline.

Most batteries do not like the cold. Usually, when it gets freezing outside, EVs take a very long time to charge and their range drops as well. BYD says its new system handles the cold much better. Even when it is minus 30 degrees Celsius outside, the charging time only goes up by three minutes. Drivers no longer need to worry about being stuck at a charger just because winter is harsh.

The Song Ultra EV is a mid-size SUV - it is 190.9 inches long, and it has a 111.8 inches wheelbase providing a lot of legroom for people sitting in the back seats. It is built for families who need space for kids, groceries, and gear.

A single electric motor drives the rear wheels and there are two options - either 240 kW or 270 kW - to choose from. The top speed is limited to 130 mph, and while you will most likely never drive that fast on a normal road, it shows that the car has plenty of muscle. It can keep up with traffic easily and has no trouble climbing steep hills or passing other vehicles on the highway.

Safety is another area where BYD put in a lot of work. The Song Ultra EV comes with the DiSus-C smart suspension that controls how the car feels on bumpy roads and helps if a tire goes flat. Usually, a flat tire at high speeds is very dangerous, but this car can stay under control even if a tire pops while going 87 mph.

The Song Ultra has 27 different sensors all around the body, helping the car to "see" what is happening on the road as it helps the driver navigate through busy city streets. It even has a system that can park the car by itself in almost any spot. All these tech features come standard - no need to pay extra money to get the best safety tools.

China has a lot of companies making electric cars right now, so the competition is very tough. BYD is fighting to stay on top by offering more features for less money. The Song Ultra EV is going up against other popular cars like the XPeng G6 and the Leapmotor C11. By pricing their car under $22,000, BYD is making it hard for other companies to keep up.

Only a few years ago, charging a car in five minutes seemed impossible. Now, it is something you can buy and park in your driveway. And the best news is that this tech is heading to Europe, with BYD expanding its new charging network rapidly - it's no longer a China-only option.

Via