BYD makes a bid for slice of EV market with new Dolphin

BYD Dolphin drive by Steve Rogers

Let’s be honest, Dolphin doesn’t trip off the tongue when talking about a new car.

But that is the name given to BYD’s latest electric car, and the oceanic theme will continue when the Seal hits our roads in December.

Time to press the pause button. Who the heck is BYD?

This is the biggest car company you have probably never heard of and the latest to come out of China, a battery maker turned electric car builder, and it is just like a Chinese takeaway, good value and very tasty.

An independently owned company BYD has been supplying the world with batteries along with lots of other tech - they make half of all i-Pads - but now a significant player in electric cars.

Since its first model in 2008 BYD (Build Your Dreams) has notched up more than five million sales, mainly in China, and last year produced 1.8 million electric cars. The first model in the UK was the recently launched Atto 3 SUV and now we have Dolphin, a five door family hatch around the size as a VW Golf.

We are getting are four models, laden with standard equipment and very competitively priced from £26,195 to £31,695. There is a festival of technology, and cheery design full of thoughtful touches and masses of storage spaces for a relatively small car.

For now it is the top end Comfort and Design models with a 60kWh battery pack and a range of 265 miles. Entry Active and Boost arrive in the new year with 45kWh packs and ranges of 211 and 193 for the slightly more powerful Boost.

The headline grabber is the ‘blade’ design battery pack, a thinner, lighter unit placed between the axles, with cobalt free lithium iron-phosphate content, said to be safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries.

An important benefit is a lower floor providing more head and legroom which is a bonus for adults in the back seat.

Not a first but another key feature is the heat pump which takes recycled energy from the motor, mitigating the loss of range experienced when the car’s heating is turned on. That can sometimes be as much as 25 miles on a freezing day. I can see that becoming standard in electric cars in the not too distant future.

BYD wants owners to feel a sense of fun and there is a light hearted, refreshing look to the cabin with a mixture of textures. Look out for the dolphin fin style door pull and wave design theme across the dashboard which is eye catching.

Nothing more captures the tech fest than the rotating central touchscreen. This is can be switched from horizontal to vertical using voice control and ‘Hey BYD’. It covers just about every function and even has a pleasant lady reminding the driver to stay within the speed limit. A far more effective guilt trip than a bleep.

With former Alpha Romeo and Audi designer Wolfgang Egger at the helm Dolphin has a trendy European look beefed up with some dazzling touches like the full width rear light bar and ziz-zag light signature.

The spec across the board is extensive following the current Chinese trend to tempt us into a new brand so expect powered front seats, LED high beam auto dipping lights, 4G connection, cloud service, all round camera, vegan leather trim, and a full suite of safety features as part of a long list.

What about this for another handy touch. A cable for charging electrical appliances using the car’s battery power with a ganger attachment for a standard 3-pin plug. Great for camping or keeping the laptop, i-Pad etc charged.

It’s a decent drive too, comfortable, with light steering and neutral handling. Range loss over a 50 miles country drive was around average for an electric car. A fast charge from 30 to 80 per cent takes half an hour. And with pedal to the floor there is plenty of pick up for safe overtaking.

Like Chinese owned MG, BYD is a work in progress so the focus is on building a dealer network, our nearest is Stockport. The target is 100 sites by the end of 2024.

If this is the standard we can expect then BYD is going to be a force to be reckoned within the next five to 10 years. This is great for the UK market so bring it on.

Fast facts

Dolphin Design

£31,695

Electric motor 200 bhp

60.4kWh battery

Range: 265 miles

0-60mph 7secs; 99mph

Warranty 6 years

Battery 8 years

Boot: 345-1310 litres

Insurance group 33

Elderly walker left bleeding as he waited hours for ambulance, says story

The Daily Post is reporting that a businessman from Llanarmon was left "incensed" that an elderly walker, bleeding with "serious head injuries", had to be driven to hospital after waiting four hours for an ambulance. 

Jonathan Greatorex, who owns The Hand Hotel and Spa, went to administer first aid to the 80-year-old after he suffered a fall in a country lane close the hotel.

Mr Greatorex was appalled that the walker waited four hours for an ambulance - who in the end had to be driven to hospital by his wife.

* For the full story, see: Broadcaster 'incensed' at ambulance wait for bleeding walker, 80, with 'serious head injuries' - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk) 

Nile Rodgers and Jess Glynne to star in special Eisteddfod shows

Kings of disco Nile Rodgers & CHIC and pop superstar Jess Glynne will perform headline sets at two special shows for Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod next summer.

Legendary music pioneer Rodgers will star at the Pavilion on Thursday July 11 while chart record holder Glynne will headline on Friday July 12.

Supporting Nile Rodgers & CHIC will be Brit singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis Bextor and 80s-inspired contemporary pop band Deco. 

Speaking about the Llangollen date, Rodgers said: “The UK is my home from home so despite the fact that it’s not even winter yet I’m excited to be announcing that we will be bringing you good times this summer.”

Jess Glynne, who has announced the show as part of her UK summer tour, said: “I can't wait to get back on stage and go live for all my people! It's gonna be a good year... let's go!”

Rodgers is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a multiple GRAMMY Award winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist with more than 200 production credits to his name.

As the co-founder of CHIC, he pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits such as Le Freak, Everybody Dance and Good Times that sparked the advent of hip-hop. 

His work with CHIC and his productions for artists such as David Bowie, Diana Ross and Madonna have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide. 

His innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Sigala, Disclosure and Sam Smith reflect the vanguard of contemporary music. 

His work in the CHIC organisation including We Are Family with Sister Sledge and I’m Coming Out with Diana Ross and his productions for artists like David Bowie (Let’s Dance), Madonna (Like A Virgin) and Duran Duran (The Reflex) have sold more than 500 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk (Get Lucky), Daddy Yankee (Agua), and Beyoncé (CuffIt) reflect the vanguard of contemporary hits.

Jess Glynne is the only British female solo artist to ever score seven UK Number One singles.

The news she is heading to Llangollen follows the arrival of her latest single Friend of Mine after the summer banger What Do You Do?

Both singles mark a new and more personal chapter for the GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter, who has delivered some of the most memorable dance-pop hits of the past decade. 

Smashing her way into the nation’s consciousness as the vocalist on Clean Bandit’s 2014 Grammy Award-winning Rather Be and Route 94’s My Love, Glynne has since become one of the UK’s biggest acts with hits including I’ll Be There, Hold My Hand and Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself. 

Her two previous Platinum-selling albums both became Number One records, she has collected three Ivor Novello nominations, won a GRAMMY, racked up nine Brit Award nominations and 1.2 billion streams.

The headlining shows are the latest to be announced as part of a new partnership between the Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Indie superstars Manic Street Preachers and Suede’s double-headlining show at the iconic peace festival on Friday June 28 sold out within an hour of going on sale and tickets are available now for double platinum and BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith who will head to Llangollen on Friday June 21.

Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor said: "We have presented numerous shows with both Nile Rodgers & CHIC and Jess Glynne. Both are incredible performers who will bring their own unique style to Llangollen ensuring audiences enjoy amazing live music.

“Nile Rodgers & CHIC perform hit after hit making for an absolutely brilliant night out, while Jess Glynne is a truly acclaimed British female artist.”

Chair of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Sarah Ecob added: “When we revealed our partnership with Cuffe and Taylor we said we would be making some huge announcements, and these are massive.  

"Jess Glynne and Nile Rodgers &CHIC are international superstars at the top of their game. We can’t wait for them to come to Llangollen for our brilliant peace festival.” 

* Tickets to both shows go on general sale at 9am on Friday October 27 from llangollen.net and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Latest traffic alert for the area

Latest local traffic alert from one.network is:

Abersylio to Efenechtyd, Llangollen, Denbighshire 24 October - 28 October   Delays likely - Diversion route   Name: Diversion   Location: Abersylio To Efenechtyd   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned

New grant supports business property improvements

* Llangollen town centre could benefit from the new grant scheme.

Denbighshire County Council has launched a new grant funding scheme for businesses based in town centres across the county to be able to enhance the exterior of their commercial properties.

The Denbighshire Commercial Property Development Grant has received £290,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and forms part of the council’s wider Town Centre Property Improvement Scheme.

The new grant scheme will help commercial property owners and occupiers based in town centres across Denbighshire to be able to fund improvements to the appearance and viability of their buildings.

Funding for up to 70% of a project to enhance the exterior of a commercial property is available through this scheme, with £50,000 being the maximum amount that can be applied for. Applicants are expected to be able to fund the remaining cost of the project themselves.

Cllr Jason McLellan, Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation, said: “The Denbighshire Commercial Property Development Grant is a fantastic initiative targeting vacant, underutilised or untidy properties in town centres across Denbighshire to instigate improvements to visual amenity, stimulate investment, increase employment opportunities and improve the vibrancy of town centres.

“This new scheme will be an asset to any town centre-based businesses or commercial properties across the county looking to improve the exterior of their buildings to help enhance their premises and attract further business. Not only will they benefit the businesses in receipt of funding, but they will also lead to better presented town centres across Denbighshire that will improve the feel and perception of the areas, encouraging local people to take pride in their local town.” 

* For more information about the scheme and how to apply for a grant, please visit the Denbighshire County Council website: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/business/funding-and-grants/commercial-property-development-grant.aspx

MS welcomes National Lottery Heritage funding for St Collen's

* St Collen's Church from the air. Picture: Andrei Daniel.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has welcomed ambitious plans to upgrade a Llangollen church. 

He said: “I am delighted to see almost £100,000 has been awarded to St Collen’s Church by the National Lottery Heritage Fund which will help make it into more of a community hub. 

“These days more than ever, it is vital out local churches are supported and the upgrading work will mean the place can be used by local organisations and for other events. 

“It is also great to see National Lottery Funding continuing to help projects in North Wales.”

St Collen’s Church, which dates from the seventh century, plans to make space for a stage, add toilet facilities and improve the heating and lighting of the Grade 1 listed building. 

The aim is to create a more flexible and inclusive space to act as a community hub to be enjoyed by a variety of local organisations. 

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded St Collen’s £94,886 for the first phase of the work, which subject to faculty consent will be carried out over the next 12 months. 

The Priest-in-charge of St Collen’s, Father Lee Taylor, said they were delighted to receive the substantial grant. 

He said: “It will enable us to start work on our long-standing vision to re-order the church in a way it will enable it to better meet the needs of the current century.” 

St Collen’s is one of only seven places across the UK to receive National Lottery Heritage development funding to finalise plans for creating community hubs for engagement, education, creativity and wellbeing. 

The plans to transform the church, known as The Genesis Project, are being led by a small group of local volunteers. 

St Collen’s Church is part of the Valle Crucis Mission Area, one of 20 which make up the Diocese of St Asaph.

Coffee morning will support town's museum