Goodbye to hydrogen, the future is alcohol — First ‘ethyl car’ comes to America Since being founded in 1994, the Chinese automaker Build Your Dreams (BYD) has been making bold moves that are not only raising the bar for other automakers but also redefining the entire global EV landscape. BYD has gone somewhere that Tesla has never dared and that is to create an electric vehicle that is both audacious and affordable. When officially unveiled in May 2025, BYD’s e7 is half the price of a Tesla Model 3 in China and is making waves for incorporating an “impossible detail”. The $14,500 EV set to take the world by storm Although Tesla earned its fame by being the benchmark of innovation in electric vehicles, BYD is challenging all that Tesla stands for while proving that affordability, comfort, and a forward-thinking design are achievable even when creating an EV that is priced far more reasonably. Size-wise, the BYD e7’s dimensions make it seem like it is in direct competition with the Tesla Model 3. The ‘impossible detail’ that BYD has, however, managed to achieve is the fully integrated smart cockpit defined by its ergonomic cloud-sensing seats with hints of premium interior design touches. Seemingly achieving the impossible in terms of price and value, the BYD model starts at merely 103,800 yuan (about $14,500). For a limited time, the offer for the e7 stands at 99,800 yuan ($13,900), less than half the cost of Tesla’s entry-level model in China, which was priced at 235,500 yuan ($32,700). The lower price tag, however, does not indicate that BYD cut corners in terms of utility, practicality, or performance. BYD e7 buyers can choose between two battery configurations: the 48 kWh or the 57.8 kWh, which produce CLTC ranges of 450 km and 520 km, respectively. For an everyday car, the pricing strategy is rather strategic. BYD has achieved its overall goal of opening up the concept of EV ownership to the wider market. Expanding on the ‘impossible detail’ In going further than Tesla has ever gone before, the e7’s interior design offers feature integration at a reasonable price. BYD has created a cabin that contains an “ingeniously crafted comfortable cockpit,” and the reason the interior is so classy is because of these features: Panoramic sunroof commonly reserved for premium vehicles. Integrated hand gear selector.