BYD NZ fleet data: rarely charged Shark 6 PHEV emits nearly three times as much

Summary

BYD New Zealand has released fleet emissions data showing a Shark 6 plug-in hybrid that was charged only twice in two months emitted almost three times as much CO2 per kilometre as another Shark 6 charged 59 times. The data comes from a fleet emissions dashboard built over more than a year by BYD New Zealand and connected-vehicle data company Compass IoT, part of BYD Connected Car Data and currently free to New Zealand fleet customers. The dashboard uses electricity and fuel data recorded by each vehicle's onboard computer, weighted by distance travelled, and converts it to emissions using the Ministry for the Environment's petrol and grid emissions factors.

The Shark 6 charged 59 times travelled 3,002km, 82 percent of it on battery power, used 2.3 litres/100km and emitted 71g CO2e/km; the one charged twice travelled 726km, 27 percent on battery, used 8.4 litres/100km and emitted 205g CO2e/km. BYD New Zealand general manager Warren Willmot said switching to BYD already lowers fleet emissions, and Connected Car Data lets fleets see how each vehicle is actually used, exposing habits such as rarely charging PHEVs and prompting drivers to change, which alone can cut the same vehicle's fuel use and emissions by about two-thirds. Over 65 days from 15 August to 18 October, 21 vehicles travelled 41,409km, used 4,703kWh of electricity (11.4kWh/100km) and 1,556 litres of fuel (3.8 litres/100km), emitting 4.15 tonnes CO2e in total, or 100g/km on average.

Battery-electric models Atto 1, Atto 2, Atto 3 and Sealion 7 emit between 9 and 14g/km on the New Zealand grid; 12 PHEVs (Seal 6, Sealion 5, Sealion 8 and Shark 6) range from 49g/km to 205g/km, with the five exceeding 70 percent battery-driven all at 81g/km or below, while six with less than half battery-driven, excluding the Seal 6, all emit 131g/km or more.

Commentary

BYD New Zealand's fleet data reveals wide real-world emissions gaps among plug-in hybrids, with charging frequency the key variable. Across the 65-day monitoring period, 21 vehicles averaged 100g/km, but Shark 6 models ranged from 71g to 205g depending on charging habits, a gap of nearly three times. New Zealand's grid has a high renewable share, so battery-electric models emit just 9-14g/km, while PHEVs relying on petrol can exceed some efficient petrol cars.

For New Zealand small and medium business owners, fleet management needs to focus on actual usage behaviour rather than vehicle specifications alone. BYD's free emissions dashboard can help fleets identify inefficient vehicles and optimise operations, but businesses should also assess whether PHEVs suit scenarios lacking charging infrastructure. The New Zealand government is pushing fleet electrification, and while the Clean Car Discount has been adjusted, firms still need to balance purchase cost against operational emissions.

As a recent entrant to New Zealand's EV market, BYD's data service could shift fleet purchasing decisions, but long-term impact depends on charging infrastructure coverage and driver behaviour change.

Keywords: BYD New Zealand, Shark 6 PHEV, fleet emissions dashboard, CO2e emissions, Compass IoT, Warren Willmot, battery-driven share, fuel consumption per 100km

Source: Autotalk