BYD Dolphin Cargo e-Van: Electric Work Van with 426 km Range
bydglobal.com
The BYD Dolphin Cargo e-Van offers 426 km range, 1093L cargo, heat pump, V2L, and more. Starting at £36,305, it leads compact electric vans.
BYD is taking the Dolphin into the commercial space by turning the city car into a small van called the Cargo e-Van. The rear seats are removed to create a cargo bay, and the biggest selling point is range: up to 426 km on the official cycle.
The new model arrives this autumn with a starting price of £36,305 (roughly $46,300 or 3.46 million rubles at current exchange rates). Without tax, it costs £29,358 (about $37,400 or 2.8 million rubles). For small businesses, this isn't a cheap work van anymore—it's a pricey investment that needs to pay off through mileage, fuel savings, and lower urban running costs.
The mechanicals come from the regular Dolphin. The van packs a 60.5 kWh battery and a 201 hp electric motor. That range easily outruns direct compact rivals: the Citroen e-C3 van manages up to 322 km, and the Dacia Spring Cargo just 225 km. Even the larger Renault Kangoo E-Tech, with its 299 km, looks modest in comparison—though it's a more traditional small van.
The Dolphin Cargo e-Van offers 1093 liters of cargo space, including a 47-liter underfloor compartment. That's slightly more than the Dacia Spring Cargo's 1085 liters, but less than the Citroen e-C3 van's 1220 liters. Maximum cargo length is 1250 mm. Official payload capacity hasn't been disclosed yet, and that could be a key concern—conversions like these often have limited weight capacity.
BYD has also added features that go beyond basic delivery needs. There's a heat pump, heated steering wheel and front seats, a surround-view camera, and a 12.8-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The V2L function lets you power external devices from the battery, and an optional 113 km/h speed limiter helps conserve charge.
For Russia, this format serves as an interesting benchmark. Businesses need compact electric delivery vehicles, but price and charging infrastructure remain the main obstacles. The Dolphin Cargo e-Van shows where the segment is headed: smaller bodies, more range, and higher entry costs.
