The Chinese and the BYD

[Randy Chase]

Byd: BYD F3DM Extended Range Electric Car Launches In China, Out-Volt's Prius And Volt

Chinese automaker BYD has unveiled the BYD F3DM electric vehicle (EREV) for sale in the Chinese market. BYD also plans to bring the 62-mile range $22,000 car to the US and out-Volt the Volt.

First they come for our Hummers, now they go after building our extended range electric vehicles. Have the Chinese no shame!

Though our first experience with the BYD hybrid system came when the company's CEO took Mr. Hardigree on an impromptu test drive of the BYD F6DM inside Cobo Hall at last years Detroit Auto Show, the first real world implementation of the ferrous oxide battery-based hybrid system will be in the BYD F3DM. We're told the F3DM will operate for up to 62 miles in all-EV with a motor making 300 lb-ft of torque, when the battery runs low power comes from a 1.0 liter gasoline engine. Compare that to the Chevy Volt which will only have a 40 mile range in all-electric and will be mated to a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. But, we're presuming the Volt will be a bit safer than the first for-the-street BYD models.

The batteries can be charged in several ways, with a standard wall plug it'll take about 7 hours, a dedicated high power charging station will do the job in about 3 hours, and a half charge can be achieved in as little as 10 minutes.

The real smack in the mouth is the asking price for the F3 DM — only $22,000 for the China market model — much cheaper than the expected $40,000 for the Volt. Again, we're assuming the Volt won't explode when someone leans on it. BYD has announced intent to introduce the car to the US market in the 2010 model year or perhaps sooner depending crash certifications and regulatory hoop-jumping. The F3DM will make it's worldwide debut in January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. [Bloomberg, GasGoo]

[Randy Chase]

BYD Auto,Build Your Dreams