It’s impossible.

It simply can’t happen.

There is no way WhipSmart is able to pull this off.

Every now and then, something happens in the Australian car market that feels almost unbelievable. Prices move, incentives shift, manufacturers release something unexpected, and suddenly everyone is talking about the same question: “Is that real?” Over the past few months, nothing (in our bubble) has triggered that reaction more than the claim that you can drive a brand-new electric car — specifically the BYD Atto 1 — for around ten dollars a day through a novated lease with WhipSmart. It sounds absurd, almost too good to be true, and yet it’s the kind of claim that spreads because people genuinely want to believe it.

And in this case, they actually can.

Because as unlikely as it seems, yes; WhipSmart has been able to bring the cost of a BYD Atto 1 down to the sort of daily figure that feels more like the price of a takeaway coffee than a new electric vehicle. It’s not a trick or a loophole. It’s simply the combination of a sharply priced EV from BYD and the full financial advantages of a well-structured novated lease. When those two elements meet, the numbers suddenly fall into a range most people never expected to see for a brand-new electric car.

But let’s break down exactly how this happens.

To start with, BYD deserves a round of applause for releasing what is now one of the most affordable electric cars on the Australian market. The BYD Atto 1 – known as the Seagull in other countries — wasn’t designed as a luxury flagship or a high-performance EV. It was designed to bring electric driving into reach for everyday Australians who simply want something clean, modern, efficient, and realistically priced. That base price is the foundation that makes the entire WhipSmart offer possible. Without BYD pushing EV affordability forward, the numbers could never line up the way they do.

The second part of the equation is the novated lease itself. There’s a reason novated leasing has become one of the most powerful tools for making EVs cost-effective for ordinary workers. When WhipSmart sets up your novated lease, we bundle nearly every cost associated with owning the car — registration, servicing, tyres, insurance, even running costs — into a single clear payment. Instead of juggling half a dozen bills across the year, you simply have one predictable amount deducted directly from your salary before tax. By paying through your pre-tax income, your taxable income drops, and the effective cost of the car falls dramatically. This is where the magic happens, and this is what turns the BYD Atto 1 into a genuine ten-dollar-a-day contender.

So once you realise that the $10-a-day figure is actually possible, the next question becomes obvious: Which version of the BYD Atto 1 should I buy? That’s where the two variants come into play; the Atto 1 Essential and the Atto 1 Premium.

The BYD Atto 1 Essential: Affordability First

The BYD Atto 1 Essential is the specific model that allows WhipSmart to deliver that unusually low daily cost. It is a streamlined, efficient electric vehicle, designed squarely for practical urban life and everyday commuting.

If your priority is affordability above all else, the Essential is exactly the car that makes the headlines about ultra-low daily lease rates make sense. It provides the core electric vehicle experience without the premium additions.

The Premium Surprise: High Value, Low Extra Cost

The Essential’s sibling, the Premium, stands as the more advanced version, featuring extra power, enhanced convenience features, and a larger battery. Considering these substantial upgrades, one might anticipate a significantly higher novated lease cost.

However, in the case of the BYD Atto, the financial difference is remarkably small. Through WhipSmart’s novated lease structure, the Premium works out to be only a few dollars more per day than the Essential. This negligible price increase, set against the noticeable list of upgrades, represents truly exceptional value for money.

Key Differences Between Essential and Premium

While the models are closely priced, there are three main areas where the Premium elevates the driving experience:

1. Enhanced Power and Performance

The most significant functional difference is power output.

• The Essential sits at around 60 kW which is perfectly suitable for safe and confident everyday city driving.

• The Premium almost doubles this figure at roughly 115 kW, giving it a noticeably stronger and more confident feel.

If you enjoy a little more immediate energy when you press the accelerator, or if your regular routes include navigating steep hills or high-speed freeways, the Premium’s extra power genuinely makes a practical difference.

2. Increased Battery Range

The Premium also features a larger battery system. This translates directly into more driving range and greater flexibility in your daily routine. For drivers who prefer not to think too often about charging, or for those who like the freedom to explore further across the city without range anxiety, that added capacity is a meaningful upgrade.

3. Convenience and Safety Features

To round out the package, the Premium includes vital parking and safety technologies:

• A full 360-degree camera setup.

• Enhanced parking sensors.

These features make a big difference when squeezing into tight CBD spaces, navigating complex apartment-complex car parks, or maneuvering in low-visibility conditions.

The Final Verdict on Affordability

In the end, the two models are more similar than they are different in their core components, which is why their novated lease costs end up being surprisingly close. The Essential keeps things simple and ultra-affordable, while the Premium adds capability and convenience without blowing out the budget.

The rumors are true: through a novated lease with WhipSmart, the BYD Atto 1 can genuinely come down to around ten dollars a day, making it one of the most accessible EVs Australia has ever seen. The future of electric driving isn’t just arriving—it’s arriving at a price most people never imagined.