Couple living in rural Tasmania see if an EV can survive outside the city as they put BYD Sealion 7 through rigorous tests
Published on May 01, 2026 at 9:09 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on May 01, 2026 at 9:09 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Can an EV survive in rural Tasmania? Well, that is what one couple attempted to find out after putting their BYD Sealion 7 through some tough tests.
Chris and Rini from the Rivendell Tasmania YouTube channel decided to take a closer look at the EV and see what it was like in the real world.
That involved putting it through some rigorous tests across rural Tasmania, which isn’t necessarily where you’d expect to find an electric car.
It was a fascinating real-life experience, and a big change for the couple after always using internal-combustion-powered cars up to this point.
These are the tests the BYD Sealion 7 EV was put through
All-wheel drive, long range, a closable sunroof, and a comfortable interior were the requirements for the EV.
As they live in a rural area, the couple needed an electric car with enough range to get them from A to B and back again.
As well as tests with the features and charging, the couple put the car through real-world driving tests.
“Inside the cabin is very quiet, great for listening to music, etc.,” said Chris.
“The actual driving itself is very smooth,” he added.
It handled all types of terrain brilliantly, and the couple was impressed with the car in all weather conditions.
Charging was also an easy experience, thanks to a home charger that the couple installed.
Even better was that this was powered by solar power, making the car even more eco-friendly.
Were there any negatives with the BYD?
Overall, the experience with the Sealion 7 appeared to be a positive one.
There were one or two minor negatives that the couple addressed in the video.
“The driver assists if you’ve got everything switched on, the car can kinda take over,” remarked Chris.
By this, he was referencing the lane assist and how it can pull the car left or right to keep it in the lane.
For now, he and Rini have turned the assists off.
The navigation system was a bit clunky, too, they said.
It did work, but it did take some time to get used to it.
In reality, though, the BYD Sealion 7 more than lived up to the couple’s expectations overall.
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
