2020 BYD S1 EV is now available in the Philippines

BYD Philippines introduces its pure electric S1 EV into the market. The S1 EV is a crossover that is powered by a Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate Battery. BYD says that the introduction of the all-electric vehicle is here to help the public transition from internal combustion engines to that of new-age electric motors. 

Over in its home country of China, the BYD S1 is considered one of the best-selling electric vehicles. The electrified crossover has already sold 66,573 units, including 30,874 units sold during the first four months of 2019.

The exterior of the S1 EV looks similar to that of the normal gasoline-fed S1 in terms of body lines. The differences between the two start with the grille, as the EV no longer needs to funnel air into the engine bay. It also has a different set of headlights. The 16-inch wheels also come with a different design. The BYD S1 EV gets LED daytime running lights, halogen headlights, and LED brake and interior lights.

Speaking of the interior, the S1 EV also shares the same layout as the gasoline-fed counterpart, save for the infotainment system. At the center of the EV is a new 10-inch rotatable carpad. Sound is sent via a four-speaker sound system. It also comes with leather seats, 6-way manually adjustable driver seat, automatic airconditioning, and a push to start button.

The BYD S1 features a lithium battery pack that has a capacity of 40.6 kWh which gives the vehicle 300 km of range. BYD states that the electric crossover boasts the highest all-electric range in the country. Thanks to its electric motors, the S1 EV can hit 50 km/h with a time of 5.1 seconds. While not impressive on paper, the electric motor set up only produces 94 hp and 180 Nm of torque. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels.

The battery pack is rated for 4,000 charging cycles with a life expectancy of 10 years. BYD states that with a 40kW charger, the battery can be charged from zero to full in two hours. On the other hand, a 3kW charger takes longer coming at six hours. 

The BYD S1 EV comes in with an introductory price of P2,000,000. Along with its price tag, the electric crossover comes with two charger options and a 5-year warranty.