BYD

Dolphin Surf Boost 310km

Electric car · M1 · Updated 2026-03

BYD's entry-level EV — the Dolphin Surf is Ireland's most affordable new electric car at €22,990, with 310km range and a surprisingly well-equipped cabin.

BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km — electric car Ireland 2026
🔍 Tap to enlarge
€17,881 After SEAI + VRT grants
310km WLTP ~245km real-world
310WLTP range km38kWh battery
245Real range kmIrish conditions est.
60Max DC kWFast charging
10.9s0–100 km/hAcceleration
€17,881Net priceAfter grants
€120Motor tax/yrLowest BEV band

⚙️ Technical specifications

Battery capacity38 kWh
WLTP range310 km
Real-world range (Ireland)~245 km
Acceleration (0–100 km/h)10.9s
Top speed130 km/h
Torque135 Nm
DrivetrainFWD
Max DC charge rate60 kW
Max AC charge rate6.6 kW
ConnectorsCCS · Type 2
Boot capacity308 L
Seats5
Dimensions
Length3,990 mm
Width1,715 mm
Height1,540 mm
Battery warranty8 years / 150,000 km
CO₂ emissions0 g/km
🏁 WLTP range310km
🇮🇪 Real-world (Irish)~245km

Estimates based on mixed Irish motorway/urban driving. Actual range varies with speed, temperature, load and driving style.

BYD highlights

🔋
Blade Battery (LFP)
Safer, longer lifespan — charge to 100% daily without degradation
🏭
World's largest EV maker
BYD makes its own batteries, motors, chips and software
🔌
V2L capable
Vehicle-to-load on select models — power devices from the car

💰 Irish pricing & incentives

List price (inc. 23% VAT)€22,990
SEAI Private Car Grant− €3,500
VRT relief− €1,609
Net price after grants€17,881

💡 Total savings of €5,109. Always verify eligibility at seai.ie.

SEAI Private Car Grant €3,500 VRT relief €1,609 Motor tax €120/yr Home charger grant €300 BIK OMV −€20,000 (2026)
Estimated annual running costs (15,000km)
Home/depot charging (€0.24/kWh)~€441
Public charging (€0.49/kWh avg)~€901
Motor tax€120/yr
Saving vs petrol equivalent (€1.8/L)~€2,259/yr
💡 Cost comparison: At an Electric Ireland night rate of €0.24/kWh, 15,000km of driving in the Dolphin Surf costs approximately €441 in electricity — compared with ~€2,700 in petrol for an equivalent car.

🚘 Dolphin Surf — All Trims & Pricing Ireland 2026

All prices are guide prices. Private buyer prices shown after SEAI Private Car Grant (€3,500) and VRT relief (€1,609). Confirm current pricing with your authorised dealer.

Model / Trim Battery & Range Price After Grants
Dolphin Surf Active 220km
Entry
30.1kWh · 220km €19,990€15,091
Dolphin Surf Boost 310km
Most Popular
38kWh · 310km €22,990€17,881

Prices include 23% VAT. Net prices shown after SEAI Private Car Grant (€3,500 where list price < €65,000) and VRT relief (capped at actual VRT due — 7% of OMSP, max €5,000 up to €40k, max €2,500 up to €50k, nil above €50k). Business buyers: SEAI car grant not available — VRT relief only. Always verify at seai.ie.

🇮🇪 Dolphin Surf on Irish routes

Based on estimated real-world Irish driving range (mixed motorway, regional and urban).

🛣️ Dublin → Cork 260km · M8
⚡ Charge stop recommended
🛤️ Dublin → Galway 220km · M6
✅ Single charge — 25km remaining
🏝️ Dublin → Kerry 310km · M7/N21
⚡ Charge stop recommended
🌊 Dublin → Donegal 260km · N2/N14
⚡ Charge stop recommended
🔄 Cork → Dublin (return) 520km · Round trip
⚡ One rapid charge stop needed
🏠 Daily commute (avg) 50km · /day
✅ 4+ days between home charges

Based on ~245km estimated real-world range. Actual range varies with load, speed and conditions.

👥 Is the Dolphin Surf right for you?

First-time EV buyer✅ Good starter EV
Family with children✅ 5 seats, 308L boot
Daily commuter (<100km)✅ Perfect
Intercity driving⚠️ Charge stop likely
Towing (trailer/caravan)❌ Not rated for towing
Private buyer (SEAI + VRT)✅ €5,109 total grants
Company car / BIK saving✅ BIK OMV −€20,000 (2026)
AWD / off-road capability⚠️ FWD/RWD only
💡 Best for: Most affordable BEV in Ireland.

⚡ Charging guide

🏠 7.4kW home wallbox (0–100%)~6h
⚡ 50kW ESB ecars DC (10–80%)~32min
🚀 60kW DC ultra-fast (10–80%)~27min
Connectors (DC)CCS
Connectors (AC)Type 2
🔌 Irish networks: Compatible with ESB ecars, Ionity, EZO, Circle K and Applegreen via CCS. BYD vehicles support up to 150kW DC on compatible passenger cars.

BYD's proprietary Blade Battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry — more thermally stable than NMC cells, with a longer cycle life. LFP cells can be charged to 100% daily without the long-term capacity loss that affects NMC batteries.

📐 Dimensions & practicality

Length3,990 mm
Width1,715 mm
Height1,540 mm
Boot capacity308 L
TowingNot rated
Seats5
Battery warranty8 years / 150,000 km
🔋 Battery warranty: 8 years / 150,000 km. Manufacturer covers against capacity loss below 70%.

❓ Frequently asked questions — BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km

The BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km has an Irish list price of €22,990 (including 23% VAT). After the SEAI Private Car Grant of €3,500 and VRT relief of €1,609, the net cost is approximately €17,881. The range starts from €19,990 list price. Confirm current pricing with your authorised dealer and verify grant eligibility at seai.ie.
The BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km has a WLTP official range of 310km. In real-world Irish conditions — motorway speeds, Irish temperatures and typical mixed urban/rural driving — expect approximately 245km per charge. This suits daily commuting and suburban driving comfortably.
Yes. The BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km qualifies for the SEAI Private Car Grant of €3,500. New M1 BEV, list price €14k–€60k. Apply via seai.ie after purchase. VRT relief of €1,609 also applies, giving total state support of €5,109. Verify current eligibility at seai.ie.
Yes. Company car drivers benefit from the BIK (Benefit in Kind) OMV deduction of €20,000 in 2026, significantly reducing taxable BIK on EVs. Combined with zero motor tax (€120/yr) and lower fuel costs versus petrol, the BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km is one of the most tax-efficient company cars in Ireland. The SEAI grant of €3,500 also applies for private buyers.
At 15,000km per year: home charging at a €0.24/kWh night rate costs approximately €441. Public charging at €0.49/kWh costs approximately €901. Add €120 motor tax. Compare to approximately €2,700 in petrol for an equivalent combustion car.
BYD (Build Your Dreams) is the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer by sales volume. Founded in 1995 as a battery company, BYD is vertically integrated — manufacturing its own batteries, motors, semiconductors and software. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has held a significant stake since 2008. In Ireland, BYD is distributed through an authorised dealer network.
BYD's Blade Battery is an LFP cell arranged in a flat, blade-like configuration directly inside the battery pack — removing the module layer, increasing energy density and structural rigidity. It uses safer LFP chemistry that does not produce thermal runaway under damage or overcharge. BYD Blade Batteries have passed the nail penetration test without smoking or catching fire.
The BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km supports up to 60kW DC and 6.6kW AC charging. At a 7.4kW home wallbox, a full charge takes approximately 6 hours. At a 50kW ESB ecars rapid charger, 10–80% takes around 32 minutes. At the maximum 60kW DC rate, 10–80% takes approximately 27 minutes.
The BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km uses CCS (DC fast charging) and Type 2 (AC), compatible with all major Irish networks including ESB ecars, Ionity, EZO, Circle K and Applegreen.
Motor tax for the BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km is €120 per year — the lowest available band in Ireland (A1, 0g/km CO₂). All battery electric vehicles registered as private cars qualify for this rate, compared to €280–€700+/year for an equivalent petrol or diesel car.

🔍 Also consider

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Interested in the BYD Dolphin Surf?

Use our free calculators to estimate your home charging costs, compare public networks and total cost of ownership.

🔗 Everything you need alongside the BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km

Every electric car owner needs a home wallbox. Charging overnight on a 7.4kW wallbox at a night rate (~€0.24/kWh) costs far less than public charging — and the SEAI Home Charger Grant covers up to €300. Here are the most popular home chargers in Ireland right now:

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📐 Calculators for the Dolphin Surf
🏠
Home Charging Cost Calculator
Calculate exactly what the Dolphin Surf costs to charge overnight on your tariff — Electric Ireland, Energia, SSE and all major Irish rates included.
Open calculator →
Public Charging Cost Calculator
Compare ESB ecars, Ionity, EZO and other Irish networks — see the true cost per 100km for the Dolphin Surf on each network.
Compare networks →
🏷️
Charging Membership Comparison
Is an ESB ecars, Ionity or EZO membership worth it for your mileage? Calculate breakeven for the Dolphin Surf in minutes.
Compare memberships →
☀️ Charge from your own solar — free km from your roof

A 4kWp home solar system generates approximately 3,400–3,800 kWh/year in Ireland — enough to cover 294–310km of free driving annually in the Dolphin Surf. Pair with a myenergi Zappi charger to automatically charge from surplus solar generation before it exports to the grid.

☀️ Solar Panel Directory → 💶 Solar Cost Calculator → 🔌 myenergi Zappi (solar charger) →
🌡️ SEAI grants: combine EV + heat pump + solar for up to €14,600

The SEAI EV Home Charger grant (€300) can be applied alongside a Heat Pump grant (up to €12,500) and Solar PV grant (€1,800) — all in a single application. Switching your home heating to a heat pump while installing an EV charger and solar is the highest-savings combination available to Irish homeowners in 2026.

🌡️ Heat Pump Directory → 🔌 EV Charger Directory →
🔌 All EV chargers → | 🚗 EV directory → | ☀️ Solar panels → | 🌡️ Heat pumps → | 📂 All directories →

🔌 Get your EV charger installed — and future-proof your home

The BYD Dolphin Surf Boost 310km needs a home wallbox to charge overnight. Connect with SEAI-registered installers who supply and fit EV chargers, solar panels and heat pumps across Ireland.

🔌 Find SEAI-registered installers near you

Up to 3 SEAI-registered installers in your area will contact you within 1 business day — for your EV charger, solar panels or heat pump.

💶 Get quotes
3 local installers · 1 business day
💬 Get advice first
Free assessment · no obligation

Your details are only shared with SEAI-registered Irish installers. No spam — ever.

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De Energy Hub
More power to youTM.
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Agricultural businesses installing solar under TAMS III can immediately list their EV charger as a Pure Energy Charging Hub — powered by your own solar generation. Rural EV charging infrastructure is in high demand. Self and guest bookings available — book charging sessions for contractors and visitors before they arrive.

☀️ Pure Energy 🔄 Smart Energy 🚀 Boost Energy
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Pure Energy from your solar
Tag your charger as Pure Energy — drivers see it runs on 100% renewable generation from your farm
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Guest & self-booking
Book sessions for contractors or visitors who don't have the app — they're notified and guided through check-in
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Photo check-in
Customers upload a photo on check-in or check-out — added accountability for shared rural infrastructure
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