High-Mileage BYD Uber – CleanTechnica

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Ammar has been driving a BYD Atto 3 as an Uber for the past 22 months. During that time, he has put over 150,000 km (93,000 miles) on his odometer. He mainly drives around the Gold Coast (Queensland) and sometimes in northern New South Wales. He tells me that traffic is getting worse everywhere, but he doesn’t mind driving in it. “I have recently noticed that more Uber drivers have been switching to battery electric vehicles, with many choosing Tesla, BYD, Polestar, and MG.”

He has driven as much in the last couple of years as I have in our Tesla Model 3 in over 5 years. As battery electric cars achieve these high mileages, it is putting to bed the FUD (misinformation inspiring Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) that electric drivetrains do not last as long as fossil fuel ones. Ammar agreed to be interviewed about his experience. So, I asked him the usual questions:

Have you had any issues with it being an EV?

I haven’t had any issues with charging the car. I mainly charge at home, which is enough for my weekday driving. However, on weekends, when I work 10–12 hours, I need to stop for about 20–30 minutes to add another 100 kilometres of range, mostly in shopping centres and parks. There is only one charger at the Gold Coast Airport, which is busy most of the time. There are many chargers available at the Brisbane Airport.

[The situation has changed since I last wrote about this here.]

What cars have you used before? Why go electric? Which EVs did you consider?

• Before switching to an EV, I used a 2015 Toyota Camry petrol.
• I chose electric mainly because of rising petrol costs. Driving an EV saves me around 60% compared to petrol expenses, which is enough to cover my car loan payments. “So, in the end, it is a free car,” I quipped.
• When considering EVs, I looked at both BYD and Tesla Model 3. At the time of purchase, the Tesla was AU$70,000, while the BYD was AU$53,000.
• Additionally, BYD qualified for a $3,000 rebate from the Queensland government, making the price difference even bigger.
• The Chargefox price is 30 cent/kWh, while the Evie price is 60 cents. The Chargefox charger is hard to use because it is always busy.

Can you give us a comparison with Uber driving a petrol car (maintenance, fuel costs, etc.)?

• Charging costs me around $700–$800 per quarter, compared to approximately $4,000 on petrol. Or about AU$5 per 100 km.
• Service costs range between $160 and $500 every 20,000 kilometres.
• Other expenses, such as cleaning and accessories, vary depending on the driver, but would be the same as a petrol car.

Apart from the price difference, were there any other reasons to choose a BYD Atto 3?

I chose BYD over other EVs mainly because of its affordability, incentives, and interior quality. Beyond cost, BYD’s interior quality stood out. The smooth and quiet ride further confirmed that this was the right choice for me. Overall, BYD provided the best balance of affordability, comfort, and efficiency, making it the perfect fit.

Have there been any issues with the car?

BYD had to replace the electric lock on one of the doors because it did not work. They replaced one of the seatbelt sensors that had an issue. Recently, the cruise control button broke down, so they will replace the entire steering wheel next month, as it’s covered under warranty.

[Looks like Ammar has had great service from BYD.]

What about the battery degradation bogey?

When I bought the car, the maximum range was 400 km, with an average of 370 km. Now, the range is around 330 km. At my last service (140,000 km), they checked the battery capacity, which was still at 92%. I was told the degradation will be less next year.

[As a comparison regarding battery state of health, my own Tesla Model 3 has driven 150,000 km and has only suffered 5% degradation. Comparing with another Uber driver, Nathan had driven his Model Y as an Uber for over 340,000 km and only had 7% loss of range. Coincidentally we haven’t had much wear on our brake pads, either.]

How long do you expect to keep the Atto 3?

Everything is running well so far, so I plan to keep the car until the battery range drops below 250 km or about 60%. At that point, I might replace the car or even consider replacing the battery, depending on the cost and feasibility.

Below is the kWh usage of my home charger,  which is about 1000 kWh every month.

Would you replace it with another BYD?

It’s too early to think about replacing it, but when the time comes, I’ll explore my options. I’ve checked all the BYD models, and they look great compared to other EVs. If I had to replace my car today, I would choose BYD again. However, in the future, I’ll consider all brands before making a decision.

[With all the models becoming available on the Australian market at the moment, I expect Ammar will have a difficult decision to make.]

I asked if there had been comments from riders, hoping for an amusing anecdote. But it looks like BYD has become normal in Australian Uber driving.

Riders are always happy and amazed by the car, especially its interior. They often compliment the comfortable leather seats, ambient lighting, and spacious design. The riders also confirmed that BYD’s interior feels more premium and comfortable than the Tesla Model 3’s. Many also appreciate how quiet and smooth the ride is, which makes their journey even more enjoyable.

What of the changeover rate of Uber drivers, from petrol to electric?

Although Uber has not published the exact number of rideshare drivers turning to electric, they have informed us that all rides will be electric within 10–15 years. They will not accept petrol vehicles on the Uber platform after that.

[According to their website, Uber plans to be “a zero-emission mobility platform in Australia by 2040, with 100% of rides taking place in zero-emission vehicles.” At present, about 5% of km travelled in an Uber in Australia are in an electric car, driven by 5,400 Uber drivers. Further, as of next month, hybrids will no longer be incentivised. Australia’s Uber Green service will be battery electric cars only. Uber is also planning to invest in high-speed charging.]

Riding in an electric Uber is a great way for the Australian public to become first aware, then amazed, by what battery electric vehicles can do. Well done, Ammar.