BYD’s kei EV already looks like a hit with over 1,000 orders in its first 2 weeks

This one is about a car in Japan, not a home energy upgrade, but here's the gist. BYD, the Chinese automaker, launched its first electric "kei" car — Japan's category of small, boxy vehicles built for tight city streets and parking — and it's selling fast. In its first two weeks on the market, the car, called the Racco, drew more than 1,000 orders, which BYD says is the quickest pace of any model it has launched.

The Racco starts around $13,000 and comes in a few trims with different battery sizes. The base version has a range of about 130 miles, while the pricier versions reach nearly 200 miles and use a larger battery. After a government subsidy of about $900, the entry price drops to roughly $12,200, undercutting Japan's current best-selling EV, the Nissan Sakura. Most early buyers picked the top trim, and BYD found that just over half already had EV charging equipment at home.

There's no direct action for homeowners here — this is a Japan-market car BYD hasn't brought to the US. But it's a sign that electric vehicles are getting cheaper and more competitive against gas-powered small cars abroad, which is worth watching if you're weighing an EV purchase alongside other home electrification plans, like adding a charger or upgrading your electrical panel.