China BYD Outmanuevers GM By At Least Two Years!



BYD, China's biggest battery maker, isn't wasting any time carving its niche in the new world of electric cars and plug-in hybrids. It all started with the F6DM plug-in hybrid sedan, followed by the smaller and less expensive F3DM plug-in hybrid compact car.

Warren Buffet's MidAmerican Energy Holdings has bought a 10% stake in the Chinese firm for $230 million.

Now BYD has introduced its E6 electric car at the Beijing International Auto Show. It takes the shape of a crossover, or MPV, and will be built on on the F6's platform (same as the F6DM, which could be sold in Europe by 2010).

BYD E6 Electric Vehicle Specifications
So far, all we know is that the E6 will be a 5 seater with an acceleration of 0 to 100 kph of around 10 seconds. Top speed should be top speed of 160 kph (100 mph), and the battery pack, which is located under the rear passenger seats, will be based on BYD's own lithium-ion iron phosphate technology. Range per charge is expected to be 300 km (186 miles).

But most impressive of all:
"BYD projected the battery had a life of 2,000 cycles, for a lifetime range of about 600,000 km (373,000 miles)"

Wow! Even if thats just half true, it's still pretty good.





Charging of the battery will take the night with 220V, but the E6 electric car can also take a fast charge that can bring the battery to 80% SOC in about 15 minutes.

-TreeHugger
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When speaking of BYD automobile manufacturing, the year 2007 was absolutely brilliant. In 2006, BYD’s turnover surpassed RMB 320 million, 414% higher than 2005. By the middle of 2007, data showed that turnover surpassed RMB 220 million, 35% higher than the same period a year before (January to June).

Further, BYD Auto Sales Company Ltd. announced it would realize a volume of 200,000 cars in 2008, among which F3 would set new sale’s records exceeding the sale of 150,000 units. BYD will bring more models to the market following the successful F3, the first of which will be F6, aiming for high-end markets. 

Plug-in Hybrid Car for $21.9k
What's most impressive is that BYD didn't even make cars a few years ago. Until recently, it was only a battery maker (the biggest in China), yet it's F3DM plug-in hybrid is going on sale in China right now, at least 2 years before the GM Volt, another series hybrid. Read on for more details about the BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid.

BYD F3DM Technical Specifications

The BYD F3DM went on sale in China today for about 150,000 yuan (about US$21,900). BYD plans to bring the F3DM to the US in 2010, and will allow people in North-America to have a closer look at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show in January (I'll be there to check it out).

BYD says the F3DM has a range of 100 km (62 miles) on battery power alone with a top speed of 160 kph (99 mph). The 330V, 40 Ah Li-ion pack has life of more than 2,000 cycles, according to BYD Auto. On a household 220V power supply, a full recharge takes 8 to 9 hours.

The DM powertrain incorporates BYD’s own 50 kW 3-cylinder, 1.0-liter BYD371QA aluminum engine, and has a combined maximum 
output of 125 kW.

BYD also says that the battery pack can achieve a 50% recharge in 10 minutes, though that might require more juice than a typical house power outlet can dish out. Still, this could mean that fast-recharge power stations could be a possibility.

Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain Flexibility
One interesting feature of the drivetrain is its flexibility. It actually has three modes of operation:

  • Full battery-powered electric mode
  • Series-hybrid mode, in which an engine drives a generator to recharge the batteries, acting as a range-extender like in the Chevy Volt
  • Parallel hybrid mode, in which the engine and motor both provide propulsive power, like in the Toyota Prius

BYD says it wants to make all-electric vehicles in 2009 (the BYD E6 electric crossover, pictured above, has already been announced).

- Green Car Congress