BYD E-VALI: Ready to out-deliver the Rivian ECV?

BYD has unveiled its latest ‘new energy vehicle’ — the E-VALI — and we reckon it’s got Rivian’s purpose-built delivery van in its sights.

As the electric van market searches for the spark to propel it towards its lofty targets, BYD has stepped in with E-VALI to bring its innovative EV technology to the world of LCVs.

A stylish asset?

Self-dubbed as a ‘stylish asset’ with ‘new era aesthetics’, the E-VALI really brings one competitor to mind: the Rivian ECV.  

Much of this reminiscence stems from the expansive stretch of domed windscreen coupled with a plastic-trimmed bumper. However, the face below this prominent forehead is a little more forlorn than that of its American counterpart, with horizontal LED strips taking the place of the distinctively eager glowing eyes. It looks like a Rivian that’s had a long day, but that does result in the contemporary appearance BYD is chasing.

The modern design descends into a more traditional, boxy silhouette towards the rear. This matches the minimalism spread across the van, and although it adds a more functional look, it does also give the impression of a design team that ran out of steam.

Functional design

Luckily this utilitarian appearance is more than skin deep. Available in 3.5 or 4.25-tonne e-LCV variants, the E-VALI offers up to 13.9m³ and 17.9m³ of cargo space respectively. This falls just short of its Rivian size equivalents in terms of sheer storage area (and we haven’t seen any neat ECV style shelving options announced yet either), but the E-VALI does boast a marginally higher payload from 700 kg to 1450 kg.

This space can be conveniently accessed from either the sliding side door, or the hinged rear doors, which offer enough height to stand upright when loading and unloading. Back pain begone.

Like the Rivian, the cargo area can be accessed via a bulkhead door from the cabin. This easy access is made even easier by the electrically adjustable seats up front; designed with minimal wrap-around, and the ability to fold away to maximise space.

A connected cabin

To describe the cabin in a word? Sparse. The dashboard consists largely of negative space, broken up by some practical storage contours, a digital instrument display, and a larger infotainment touchscreen.

In addition to carrying the minimalist aesthetic into the interior, this dashboard hub provides access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, backed up by voice recognition tech. There’s also an accompanying App to add remote functionality and vehicle status monitoring, which is handily partnered with a wireless phone charger to ensure drivers can stay in the loop.

Sound close to the ‘car-like’ interior manufacturers are chasing in the LCV market? Well, BYD might even be going a step further, considering the foldable table, and — always a favourite — the refrigerated cool box cubby, both hidden within the centre console.

Under the bonnet floor

And now, the main event in any BYD vehicle: the electric powertrain. This 6-in-1 setup wraps the Motor Controller Unit, Motor, Gearbox, Battery Management System, Vehicle Control Unit, and Power Distribution Unit into a single powertrain module. This ‘simple’ approach (according to BYD) allows for easier maintenance, more cargo space, and a reduced cargo floor height. 

By utilising the same Blade Battery tech as Korea’s T4K workhorse — which notably passed the ‘rigorous’ Nail Penetration Test — safety and durability are all but guaranteed, despite the sharp sounding names. This battery allows for a range somewhere between 136 and 155 miles, again sitting in Rivian ECV territory, and likely following the same logic that this is more than enough juice for the average urban delivery route. 

An additional benefit of the EV powertrain, the Vehicle-to-Load (VTOL — not to be confused with vertical take-off and landing) system can be used to turn your van into a mobile power bank, allowing devices, tools, and gadgets to be topped up from the battery.

Mirroring the Rivian van one last time, the E-VALI has only been announced for a Europe release so far. But should either make their way to the UK, which one would be your choice?

Hero image credit: Newspress UK