All-electric MPV launched in China

The BYD Song Max EV is a purely electric minivan now available in China. Compared to its gas-powered predecessor (see video), the car has 18-inch wheels, a new front grille, and the EV badge.

The Song Max EV is also 10 millimeters (0.2 inches) less tall than before, but the remaining dimensions stay the same. The cabin still accommodates six or seven passengers.

Powering the car is a single electric motor with 163 hp (122 kW), connected to a traction battery rated at 59.13 kilowatt-hours, of 401 km (250 miles) of NEDC driving range. The MPV needs 4.5 seconds to get to 50 km/h (31 miles), and 15 minutes spent at a 60-kW DC charging station tops it up for another 100 kilometers (62 miles) of driving.

The regular BYD Song Max has been around since 2017. It ships with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 154 hp (115 kW) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque and its marginally stronger variant with 160 hp (119 kW) and 245 Nm (181 lb-ft). Both are available with six-speed manual and automatic transmission types. The ultimate version is called DM and is a hybrid that consists of the same gas engine, plus a 110-hp (82-kW) electric motor.