Last week, EVAP held the 12^th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) at the SMX at the Mall of Asia. This year’s theme, “Spark Change, Drive Electric”, aims to steer the Filipino to consider the EV for a cleaner and sustainable future in transportation. With the increased interest and growing adoption of electric vehicles in the country, this event is the ideal venue to introduce new models.

VinFast unveils the VF7

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, VinFast, unveiled their compact crossover SUV on the first day of the of PEVS. Having just recently officially entered the country, and launching the VF5 subcompact crossover SUV and the VF4 mini SUV, the VF7 is VinFast’s compact crossover five-seat SUV. 

Available in two variants, the VF7 base is driven by one electric motor which puts out 174-Hp and 250-Nm of torque. It’s equipped with a 59.6-kWh which gives it a maximum range of 430-km (NEDC).

The VF7 Plus has dual electric motors with a combined power output of 348-HP with 500-Nm of torque and is all-wheel drive. It’s powered by a 75.3-kWh battery pack with a maximum driving range of 496-km (NEDC).

Both Base and Plus variants have safety features which include electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, and anti-roll control. The Plus is equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, door-opening alert, automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera system.

The Base variant is priced at P1,470,000 (under battery subscription) or P1,760,000 (battery fully paid) and the Plus is priced at P1,730,000 (under battery subscription) or P2,380,000 (battery fully paid). The monthly battery subscription costs are P6,300 if you drive less than or up to 1500-km in a month. If you drive upwards of 1,500 to 2,500-km, the cost goes up to P9,000. The battery subscription cost for monthly distances above 2,500-km is P15,000.

Both variants of the VF7 come with a 10-year / 200,000-km vehicle warranty, 10-year unlimited mileage battery warranty for fully purchased batteries. If you avail of the battery subscription, free maintenance, with battery replacement available if capacity falls below 70%.

BYD Seal 

On the second day of PEVS, ACMobility, the official distributor of BYD electric vehicles, unveiled the BYD Seal, their flagship performance sedan. The Seal’s X-design concept garnered it the prestigious iF Design Award in 2023.

The BYD Seal is an all-wheel-drive powered by dual motors with a combined maximum power output of 529-Ps with 670-Nm of torque. This allows an acceleration of 0-100kph in 3.8 seconds. It’s powered by an 82.6-kWh Blade Battery pack giving it a range of up to 580-km on a single charge. It rolls on 19 inch two tone alloy wheels wrapped in 235/45’s.

The cabin is appointed in black leather and suede accents, power adjustable seats are ventilated and the driver seat offers memory function. The panoramic glass roof also lets in natural light into the cabin. The instrument cluster is a digital 10.25-inch LCD screen and the centerpiece is the 15.6-inch rotating screen for the infotainment, vehicle settings and 360-camera. It’s equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has a 12-speaker Dynaudio system. There are also two 15-W wireless phone chargers in the center console. 

The Seal is the first model to feature Cell-to-Body technology in its construction integrating it into the vehicle’s structure to enhance chassis stiffness and improve handling and responsiveness. It has a 50/50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity for better control during spirited driving.

It is also the first in BYD’s lineup to be equipped with Intelligent Torque Adaptation Control (iTAC). essentially this is faster acting traction control reducing lag associated with ordinary traction control systems, allowing for more grip and imperceivable slip on acceleration. It’s also equipped with Frequency Selective Damping shock absorbers which adjust to road conditions and driving requirements.

A double wishbone front suspension and five-link rear suspension ensures a smoother ride and exceptional handling. To being the Seal to a stop, there are 344 mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs in front and 417 mm ventilated discs in the rear.

The BYD Seal has eight airbags, and is equipped with the DiPilot Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). It has Stop & Go Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control, Predictive Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Detection. A 360-degree view HD camera, Heads-up Display, and a radar system with six sensors which provide Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Braking functions for extra awareness on the road. These features earned the Seal 5-star ratings in the Euro NCAP and ANCAP. 

The Seal has a 150-kWh DC fast charge capability which lets you charge from 30- to 80- percent in 30-minutes. 

The BYD Seal is available in one variant, and is priced at P2,548,000.00 and is covered by an eight-year or 160,000-km warranty (whichever comes first) for the BYD Blade Battery, an eight-year or 150,000-km warranty (whichever comes first) for the drive unit and a six-year or 150,000-km warranty (whichever comes first) on the vehicle.