E-Vali not ruled out, but PHEVs to lead BYD van plan

BYD New Zealand says plug-in hybrid drivetrains will make up the core of its van lineup in the future, but has not ruled out bringing in an electric van revealed in Europe.

The E-Vali, a van comparable to the full-size Ford Transit, was launched at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover, Germany (September 17-22).

The E-Vali has a cargo volume of up to 17.9 cubic meters, and like other cargo vans comes with multiple Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) sizes, with 3.5 and 4.5 tonne versions.

The smaller version measures 5995mm long, 2096mm wise and 2780mm tall, while the larger option is the same with the exception of being a meter longer.

The battery is an 80kWh LFP ‘Blade’ unit, with 188kW fast charging. It gets a heat pump for efficiency as well as a foldable table and fridge for driver comfort. The same screen as found in the Seal is fitted, as is a full suite of driver assistance and safety gear.

We don’t know the performance of the van yet, but what matters more is range. At 220-250km WLTP – it does not seem impressive, though is relatively in line with the Ford.

BYD New Zealand has yet to confirm whether the highly anticipated E-Vali electric van will be making its way to the local market.

When asked about its potential arrival, Warren Willmot, general manager of BYD NZ, stated, “We won’t rule it out, but we are pushing for DM-i vans first,” signaling that the company’s immediate focus is on introducing its plug-in hybrid commercials.

Willmot explained that the New Zealand market has unique demands, particularly for vans that are driven longer distances rather than being limited to city use.

“Our preference at this stage is for DM-i, given that Kiwis generally do longer driving in vans than ‘last mile delivery’ high-density markets,” Willmot says.

He says they intent to offer vans in three sizes, including 3m³, 6m³, and 11m³ – comparable to the Caddy, HiAce, and Transit MWB, respectively.