China's BYD Automobile to make hybrid next year
The Chinese car maker, BYD Automobile Co Ltd, plans to mass produce a hybrid gas-electric car the second half of next year. BYD showed a full electric car, the F3e, a car based on its F3 sedans, at last year's Beijing auto show. I assume BYD's planned hybrid is based on the F3 sedan as well. The battery for BYD's hybrid and electric car are iron based, which BYD says is better than lithium-ion batteries.
"The iron battery proves to have better safety performance and larger capacity. The cost could also be lowered by using abundant resources and affordable raw materials," says BYD in an e-mail. BYD's first car, the F3 sedan, started production in 2005 and sold 51,000 units in 2005. In 2006, BYD sold 60,000 F3s and they expect to sell 100,000 this year.
The Chinese government is really encouraging its carmakers to develop clean cars. Do you think China could take the lead from American and European car makers on hybrids? What about the Japanese?
Related:
[Source: Shanghai Daily]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Russ 3:20PM (4/14/2008)
BYD has huge ambitions, they have grown from 20 employees in 1998 to 100,000 in 2008! They plan to become China's largest car manufacturer in a few years and the world's largest car manufacturer in a couple of decades. This company has shocked the automotive industry world-wide at how fast they have developed since 2003. Build Your Dreams is THE company to watch.
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Parab 10:47AM (7/09/2008)
On June 11th BYD signed a distibutor contract with teh Netherlands distributor Autobinck.
http://www.autobinck.nl/Engels/nieuwsjuni.asp
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Victor Lim 1:02AM (7/19/2008)
BYD is too new in the auto industry with no track record to show. As such, it is not surprising that its announcement to come up with gas-electric and a full electric car models are received coldly and with much caution. How safe is the car? Does it pass all crash test standards? Besides, I think pride may also make it difficult for the older car manufacturers to accept this new player. Of course collateral industries affected also is a major factor. Perhaps it would be good if BYD promotes its cars in third world countries first as a test market before it tackles the more affluent countries. Fierce sales competition with major car manufactures in the third world would surely force them to take notice.
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phoebe 1:07PM (7/19/2008)
I'm a chinese.I'm in china.I look forward to the BYDF1,but they havn't been available yet.So, when will Electric cars be available??
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password 1:23PM (7/19/2008)
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MrLapin 7:08PM (1/23/2009)
"Ferrous" is pretty vague. Could be lithium iron phosphate. Could also be nickel-iron (Edison), or even a NiMH variant where they're trying to skirt the Cobasys restrictions on capacity and licensing.
Standing by for data download ...
Did you catch a look at the spec sheet? This dude is one portly fellow. Unless my eyes are playing tricks, the specs say he masses 1800kg. That's more than a Ford Escape SUV.
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jcwinnie 7:37PM (10/09/2007)
LL, you make want to check with your translator. I think that the BYD translator is referring to a lithium iron phosphate battery, such as LTC makes.
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steven 4:19PM (10/09/2007)
I hope a LOT of that article is getting lost in translation... "BYD said its new electric cars take both gasoline and can be recharged with batteries.".
So who is going to sell you the batteries needed to recharge you electric car that runs on gasoline????
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Bill 7:12PM (10/09/2007)
They haven't yet been able to make a car that even comes close to meeting U.S. crash test standards.
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Lascelles Linton 7:45PM (10/09/2007)
Jcwinnie, I did not have anything translated. Shanghai Daily claims the battery is "iron based" and better than lithium.
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Kent Beuchert 8:29PM (10/09/2007)
Since third generation li ions have no safety issues, they must be talking first gen li ions. How far behind in battery technology are they?
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Paul Evans 5:46AM (12/12/2007)
BYD are technically advanced and supply 25% of all mobile phone batteries globally. They have a massive R&D budget and enormous R&D centre.
Yes, there are still issues with Chinese companies making cars suitable for developed countries. They will get there and soon.
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