Toyota has already said that, although they will launch electric cars, the route they are going to take will be hybrid cars with great electric range. The Toyota Prius is the first glimpse of things to come at the Japanese company. However, the Japanese firm is not going ahead with launching these types of cars, as Chinese manufacturer BYD has gone ahead with a model that revolves around this technology and could potentially replace the Prius in its plug-in. Provides greater electrical autonomy than the Hybrid version.
It’s called the BYD Chaser 07 and being the first hybrid car the brand integrates into its Ocean Series range, it could be the first car designed to reach Europe. The comparison is disgusting, but considering that Toyota is the absolute reference in terms of efficiency and hybrid engines in our market and BYD is one of the most promising manufacturers for the coming years, the comparison of each model is striking, to say the least. Is.
The Prius has been presented as the first glimpse of what is to come from the brand. In its most frugal variant, the model will be able to offer an electric range of up to 105 km. BYD, for its part, has announced that the Chaser 07 will be able to offer up to 200 km, a very attractive figure, but which as always is under the NEDC approval cycle in China, which is completely out of date and Returns statistics that are impossible to quantify. Receive in actual use conditions.
Once the WLTP test is passed, which is the rule for manufacturers in Europe, the Chaser 07’s electric autonomy will be greatly reduced, although it will certainly be maintained comfortably above one hundred kilometers, even That being able to compete with plug-in hybrids like the Mercedes S-Class in terms of electric autonomy.
There will be a second mechanical option for the Chaser 07, also a plug-in hybrid, with an electric range of around 121 km NEDC. It is understood that this will represent the stage of reaching the limit, although it is estimated that we are not facing an economic model, because of the measurement and technology it is considered a medium-high range model. And it is that with its length of 4.98 meters, it has the same length as the BYD Han, which is available in Spain in 100% electric format.
The Chaser is part of the 07 Ocean series, although it is not an electric car like the rest of the range.
The Chaser 07’s hybrid system is called the DM-i by BYD and is powered by a 1.5-liter displacement turbo gasoline engine. Primarily, it will have the battery that Han equips in its plug-in hybrid versions for sale in China, with capacities of 18.3 kWh and 37.6 kWh for the short and long autonomy versions, respectively.
BYD will put the model on sale during the last quarter of 2023, although for now, it is only for China. Since it is a member of the Ocean series, its commercialization in Europe should not be ruled out.
