Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle costs the same as a Toyota Corolla

With the BYD Dolphin EV priced at $38,890, Chinese EV makers are pursuing the claim of bringing the most affordable electric vehicle

BYD Dolphin KV, when it arrives by the end of 2023, will be the cheapest electric vehicle in Australia

Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle will launch before the end of the year, with the BYD Dolphin EV priced at $38,890.

It’s the latest salvo in an escalating war between Chinese EV makers to claim the title of the country’s most affordable electric vehicle, with BYD undercutting the just-announced MG4 by $100.

MG claimed the title of Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle — and held it only for about 48 hours — when it locked in $38,990 for its MG4 earlier this week.

That model, called the MG4 Excite 51, is fitted with a 51kWh battery, which should deliver a driving range of around 350km. It’s fitted with a single electric motor that produces 125kW and 250Nm.

Electric vehicles will be more affordable with the arrival of BYD Dolphin KV

BYD importer Luke Todd had promised the Dolphin would be cheaper than its rivals, claiming that his electric vehicle would be “the most affordable, high-quality EV in Australia”.

Full details are yet to be confirmed for the BYD Dolphin, though its pricing has now been confirmed by The Australian.

In its cheapest form, it is expected to offer a 44.9kWh battery, which will deliver a driving range of around 340km, with a single electric motor producing 70kW of power.

Both the MG4 and BYD Dolphin are similarly priced to a mid-range Toyota Corolla Hybrid, making electric vehicle ownership more accessible than ever before.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) says the battle for Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle is only good news for consumers, with EVs having moved from a premium proposition into the mainstream.

“Accessibility and price are the critical factors for the uptake of electric vehicles,” says FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber.

“And this is evidence that electric vehicles are becoming more affordable, and will thus open the idea of electric vehicle ownership to more Australians than ever before.”