The story of BYD’s flagship model, the BYD Han, dates back to 2022 when it was introduced alongside the SUV BYD Tang and the compact BYD Atto 3.
Unfortunately, the Han never found success in Denmark (as in the rest of Scandinavian countries and Europe), primarily due to a high entry price, which made it difficult to compete with other electric vehicles. But now, the Han has been upgraded with a facelift and a larger battery, and we can only hope that BYD will try to relaunch it in Denmark – this time at a more competitive price!
A major player in the luxury EV segment
The HAN is a large luxury electric car that’s set to compete with heavyweights like the Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model S, and Xpeng P7. While the design hasn’t changed much from the previous version, the Han was already a well designed car.
However, the original version struggled with a starting price of around DKK 600,000 – a price point that made it difficult to gain traction in Denmark. In addition, the charging speed lagged behind its competitors, which also impacted its appeal. Fortunately, these issues seem to have been addressed in the new version.
Faster charging and improved range
One of the most significant upgrades is the Han’s new 800V charging architecture, which is double that of the previous model, which only supported 400V. This means the new BYD Han can charge much faster – according to BYD, you can get 160 km of range from just 10 minutes of charging from zero percent. While European specifications haven’t been released yet, the car is expected to achieve an impressive range of up to 700 km according to China’s CLTC measurement method (that means ca. 550 km on the WLTP cycle).
In China, the Han is available with two motor options: a single motor producing either 225 hp or 241 hp. Should it come to Europe, it will likely feature the same 108.8 kWh battery found in the BYD Tang, delivering 517 hp and a range of around 530 km based on the WLTP standard.
Plug-in hybrid version reserved for China only
In other markets, the HAN is also available as a plug-in hybrid under the name BYD Han D-Mi. This version is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine combined with an electric motor, producing a total of 422 hp. It offers an electric range of up to 125 km and a total range of over 1,200 km when using both petrol and electricity. Unfortunately, BYD does not sell their plug-in hybrids in Europe, which is a shame as this version could have been an interesting option for many European drivers.
Inside, the BYD Han features a new 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, now with higher resolution. The cabin is adorned with Nappa leather, genuine aluminum, and wood accents, creating an exclusive and luxurious atmosphere. The equipment list includes front seats with a 10-point massage function, heating, ventilation, and a 775 Watt sound system from Danish audio brand Dynaudio with 12 speakers.
In terms of safety, the HAN has been upgraded with BYD’s DiPilot 300 system, which uses 31 sensors – including LiDAR – and a powerful Nvidia Orin-X chip for AI-driven cars. Additionally, the car’s chassis has been improved with a new five-link rear suspension and variable damping technology to ensure greater comfort during driving.
A hopeful comeback in Scandinavia?
We are crossing our fingers that BYD decides to reintroduce the BYD Han to the Danish and Scandinavian market. If this happens, we expect a starting price of under DKK 500,000 for a model with the 108 kWh battery and a range of around 530 km. Should the BYD Han make a return to Denmark, it could become a strong competitor in the luxury segment – this time with even better features and a more attractive price tag.