BYD undercuts Defender with its first 7-seat SUV in the UK

This is a car story, not a home energy story, but here's what it covers. BYD has started selling its Ti 7, a boxy seven-seat SUV, in the UK, priced at £47,995 on the road. That undercuts the plug-in hybrid Land Rover Defender 110, which starts at £71,840.

The Ti 7 is a plug-in hybrid with three electric motors and a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, putting out a combined 402 horsepower and reaching 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds. It runs mainly on a 35.6 kWh battery, giving up to 74 miles of electric-only range on the highway and up to 102 miles in city driving. That's well beyond the Defender PHEV's electric range of 31.1 miles. The SUV comes in one trim level in the UK, with leather seats, heating and ventilation for the front and outer second-row seats, a large infotainment screen, an 18-speaker sound system, and a built-in fridge and drinks warmer. Folding down the back seats gives 1,830 liters of cargo space.

Orders are open now with a £500 deposit, which BYD says it will match. Deliveries are expected to start in January 2027. This has no bearing on home energy upgrades or rebates, so if you're weighing insulation, heat pumps, or weatherization work for your house, this news doesn't change any of that.