New Models
New Models

Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle: China’s BYD promises sub-$35,000 van, here this year

The upcoming BYD T3 will be Australia's cheapest electric vehicle when it arrives later this year, if the quoted target price is to be believed.


A little-known Chinese brand is poised to introduce Australia's newest electric van – which will also be the cheapest electric car on sale to date.

TrueGreen Mobility – the Australian importer for Chinese automotive brand BYD – has confirmed plans to bring the T3 electric van onto the local market for “less than $35,000.”

“Order books will open next month, with the first deliveries planned by September [2021],” TrueGreen Mobility CEO Luke Todd told CarAdvice. “This is a dedicated workhorse two-seat fleet vehicle, geared towards the home-delivery and tradie markets … we expect it to be a big seller.”

The BYD T3 will be only the second fully electric van on sale in Australia. French car maker Renault conducted a small fleet trial with an electric version of the Kangoo with Australia Post in 2015, before it was made available to the public from 2018 priced from $52,527 drive-away.

If the quoted target price is to be believed, the BYD T3 is set to become Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle by almost $10,000. For reference, the MG ZS EV small SUV – which is also built in China – currently holds bragging rights, starting at $43,990 drive-away.

Measuring 4460mm from nose to tail, the zero-emission van is reportedly capable of holding up to 3800 litres of cargo. That gives it comparable storage to the short-wheelbase Volkswagen Caddy.

However, the T3 powertrain struggles when compared the competition – drive comes from an AC permanent magnet synchronous motor, sending a tame 70kW/180Nm to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission.

An official spec sheet notes the vehicle is capable of accelerating from 0-50km/h in a claimed 6.5 seconds, on the way to an electronically-limited top speed of just 100km/h.

Energy is drawn from a 49.2kWh lithium-ion ‘Blade’ battery pack, allowing for a claimed range of 300km between charges on the more lenient NEDC cycle.

Earlier this year TrueGreen Mobility confirmed plans to import a similarly priced high-riding hatch known overseas as the EA1, with the first deliveries expected in the first quarter of 2022 (January to March inclusive).


MORE:BYD Showroom
MORE:BYD News
MORE:BYD Reviews
MORE:BYD T3 Showroom
MORE:BYD T3 News
MORE:Search Used BYD Cars for Sale
MORE:BYD Showroom
MORE:BYD News
MORE:BYD Reviews
MORE:BYD T3 Showroom
MORE:BYD T3 News
MORE:Search Used BYD Cars for Sale
William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

Read more about William DavisLinkIcon
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent