BYD sets launch date for the new flagship Han EV with over 1,000 km of range

This news is about a car, not a home upgrade, but it doesn't have much bearing on energy-efficiency plans for your house. BYD, the Chinese automaker, is launching a new flagship electric sedan called the Great Han on October 13. Pre-orders opened last month starting at around $37,000, with the top trim priced near $40,200.

The car's headline feature is range: up to 1,008 km (626 miles) on a single charge for the rear-wheel-drive versions, using a 102.3 kWh battery. An all-wheel-drive version trades some range (546 miles) for more power. The sedan also charges fast, going from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes and to nearly full in 9 minutes, using BYD's newest battery and charging technology.

For now, BYD vehicles are not sold in the US, so this launch does not directly affect what electric car options you have if you're weighing an EV alongside home upgrades like a heat pump or a home charger. It is a sign of how fast EV range and charging speed are improving elsewhere, which may eventually shape what arrives in the US market and what kind of home charging setup future EV owners will want.