BYD presents first electric taxis for the German market
Image: BYD
BYD recently unveiled two all-electric taxi models for the German market at the European Taxi Show in Cologne. At the Chinese company’s booth, the Atto 3 EVO and Sealion 7 were displayed as fully converted taxis.
Until now, the electric vehicle giant has primarily served this industry with the Seal 6 DM-i Touring, whose super-hybrid technology is said to offer a combined range of up to 1,350 kilometers, including up to 100 kilometers on pure electricity. With these two new models, taxi and rental car companies can choose between hybrid and all-electric powertrains.
The taxi initiative launched in July has already reached an initial milestone according to the company. Together with DIE Transform from the Lang Group in Nümbrecht, BYD has converted more than 250 vehicles into taxis and delivered them to companies across Germany. Additional conversion partners include INTAX in Oldenburg, Heedfeld in Berlin, and Reuss in Hamburg, all of which are also seeing rising numbers of conversions.
In the next step, BYD plans to integrate its taxi business more deeply into its dealer network. Consulting, ordering, maintenance, and service will be handled through the regional sales locations going forward, while the vehicle conversion specific to this industry will remain the responsibility of the partner companies. By the end of the year, the dealer network in Germany is expected to grow to up to 300 sales locations.
The Atto 3 EVO is equipped with a 74.8-kWh “Blade” battery and achieves a WLTP range of up to 510 kilometers. Thanks to the 800-volt architecture, the battery pack can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 25 minutes at a rate of up to 220 kW. This 4.46-meter-long SUV is designed for use in urban traffic.
The 4.83-meter-long Sealion 7 offers 520 liters of trunk space, which can be expanded to up to 1789 liters. Its 82.5-kWh Blade battery provides a WLTP range of up to 482 kilometers and up to 631 kilometers in the city cycle. Standard equipment includes a heat pump designed to keep the interior warm efficiently even during long waits at the taxi stand.
BYD Deutschland views expanding its service offerings as the next focus of its taxi initiative. Regional manager Lars Bialkowski explains that taxi companies have repeatedly requested fully electric models after receiving the first Seal 6 DM-i Touring units. With the Atto 3 EVO and Sealion 7, the company is now providing such vehicles. Over 250 converted vehicles in just a few months demonstrate that the industry is ready. As a result, the taxi business will be integrated into the dealer network so that taxi operators have a local contact person for their vehicles.
"When we delivered the first Seal 6 DM-i Touring vehicles to taxi companies last summer, almost every conversation brought the same question: When will there be a fully electric version? With the Atto 3 EVO and Sealion 7, we now have an answer that works in shift operations," said regional manager Lars Bialkowski. "Over 250 converted vehicles in just a few months show us that the industry is ready. Service will now be crucial. That’s why we’re bringing taxi services into our dealer network, so every business owner has a local partner who knows the vehicle and can get it back on the road quickly."
Did you spot any errors? Please let us know
by email
about them. Thank you!
Also interesting
About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
Reader interactions