BYD launches its smallest and most affordable electric car outside Japan: the Racco is getting closer to Europe.

BYD has confirmed that the Racco, the electric kei car it developed specifically for the Japanese market, will soon arrive in Sri Lanka and Macao. The Chinese company had previously stated it was exploring selling its smallest electric vehicle outside Japan, with even the possibility of introducing it in Europe, where the A-segment is experiencing a resurgence driven by electrification.

Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, mentioned a few months ago the possibility of selling the Racco on the old continent. “If you follow our news in Japan, you’ll know we’re launching a kei car. It will be very interesting to watch EU regulations to see if there’s room to bring that car here.”

That said, BYD representatives indicate that markets with right-hand steering wheels will be prioritized, meaning it might arrive in the UK before mainland Europe. The same is true for the Honda Super-N (based on the kei car N-One e:), which is currently only sold in the UK because it is manufactured exclusively with a right-hand steering wheel.

The brand is particularly interested in using the Racco’s X-Pack batteries in small electric vehicles intended for global use. Typically, major electrical components (such as inverters) are located under the hood; however, in the Racco they are integrated into the battery itself, creating a very compact package that sits under the vehicle’s floor. This allows for a shorter vehicle length.

The BYD Racco is less than 3.4 meters long

The Racco is an extremely small car, even by European urban vehicle standards: it measures 3,395 mm in length, 1,475 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,520 mm. For comparison, a FIAT 500 is 3.63 meters long and a Renault Twingo is 3.79 meters long. The BYD Dolphin Surf, to which it belongs, is 3.99 meters long. It has four seats and a trunk capacity of 280 liters.

Its range consists of two versions named Racco 200 and Racco 300. The former features a 22.4 kWh battery, providing a WLTC range of 210 km, while the latter has a 35.84 kWh battery offering 320 km of WLTC range. In terms of charging, the entry-level model reaches a peak of 35.8 kW in DC current, and the top-tier model achieves 49.7 kW. Its electric motor delivers 63 hp (47 kW).

To meet international standards, the BYD Racco might increase the power of its engine, as it won’t have to adhere to the limits set for kei car categories in other markets. Competitors like the Mitsubishi eK X EV, Nissan Sakura, and the aforementioned Honda N-One e: have not dared to enter outside Japan, but BYD has big ambitions for its newest model.

Source | CarNewsChina