China's first plug-in hybrid, BYD's F3DM, goes on sale today
by Sebastian Blanco on Dec 15th 2008 at 1:01PM 
The first mass-produced plug-in hybrid from a Chinese company, the F3DM from BYD, goes on sale today. You can get it in China for the equivalent of $20,000 today, or wait until 2011 and buy one here in the US. The F3DM (the DM stands for "dual mode") uses a ferrous battery and can go 60 miles in electric-only mode. BYD expects to sell 10,000 units next year.
That all sounds very good, but BYD is new to building cars - the company's first model, the F3, went on sale in 2003 - and faces a lot of hurdles for public acceptance, at least outside of China. BYD (Build Your Dreams) does make more rechargeable batteries for things like cell phones and laptops than anyone else and investor Warren Buffett spent $230 million for an almost 10 percent stake in BYD a few months ago. These are signs that the company's goal to be the world's largest automaker has at least a little something to stand on, but Honda, for one, remains unimpressed. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for BYD's main floor presence at the Detroit Auto Show in a few weeks. Until then, check out pictures from previous BYD booths in the galleries below.
Gallery: Beijing 2008: BYD e6
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
[Source: LA Times via EVWorld]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mpr1 1:14PM (12/15/2008)
So does this not have a plug? Why not? If it doesn't, how hard would it be to design an external inverter/charger, because if it really has 60 mile EV range (OK, let's say real-world is half that, or 30) it could still be run in pure EV mode a LOT of the time in urban use. Of course the next question is, can you buy one there, drive it around, then ship it home (the way many do with European cars) even if it hasn't met DOT testing yet?
Reply
Dave 1:15PM (12/15/2008)
Sebastain,
Is that correct that it goes 60 miles EV only mode? Do you know how fast?
For only $20,000?
Why 2011? Someone should set up a dealer network and import these puppies today. I know the economy is slow, but this is cheap. Any chance you know of a similar AGB for China autos in the Pacific that could give us a review?
Thanks, nice report.
Reply
Sebastian 2:04PM (12/15/2008)
Yes, it's a plug-in, and I've updated the post to show that.
The information in this post is from the source link and previous posts on ABG. We have not yet had a chance to drive one of these vehicles (anyone in China want to lend a hand on this one?), but we'll get more information from BYD reps then, we hope.
Dave 2:22PM (12/15/2008)
Here is a little more info:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/28236421
The Associated Press reports BYD's F3DM was officially presented today (Monday) at a ceremony in Shenzhen. It can go about 62 miles on its electric engine, and has a small gasoline engine as back up. It takes nine hours to charge the battery from a regular electric outlook. Price: 149,800 yuan, which is equivalent to $22,000, in line with other Chinese-made mid-sized cars.
Reply
Torbjorn 3:46PM (12/15/2008)
What is the size of the battery? If it is large enough, which it would have to be to get 60 miles on battery alone, it would be able to take advantage of the Federal Tax incentive of $7,500. Making this vehicle perfect for mainstream buyers. No wonder Buffett put his money in this company. Need to bring them here now to take full advantage of first to market.
As much as I hate buying Chinese made products due to the incredible WTO violations and unfair competitive advantages Chinese manufacturers have; it will still be important to bring this car to everyone.
The VOLT beware!!!! It is now uncompetitive due to price even before being built. Scary.
Reply
ed 5:14PM (12/17/2008)
BYB bought the pre-existing Tsinchuan Automobile Company in 2003.
MidAmerican Holdings, a subsidiary of Warren Buffet's Nerkshire Hathaway bought 10% of BYD with the apparent intention of setting up the BYD dealerships.
Reply
rob 7:54PM (12/15/2008)
And because you're all remembering the Brilliance BS6's first Euro crash tests, I went looking and found an F3 getting a standard frontal offset test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAskc...eature=related
It appears to do exactly what is supposed to happen...
Reply
Mike!!ekiM 11:24PM (12/15/2008)
Ok, I watched the tape, did it pass the test?
Secondly, everything we get over here in the US from China, is either garbage or can poison you. I've got a
"Sears" fridge that's had 6 repairs in 7 years. Is it accepted in China that expensive things are expected to break on a regular basis?
Do all Chinese business cheat on all contracts? Melamine ) Is that a cultural thing?
But, this should be very scary for GM and Ford. China, of all countries, is already 2 years ahead in EV development. Have they given our "competitive advantage" in auto manufacturing to China, in their attempt to get out of paying Union Wages in the US? Did they just Screw themselves? Oh, and Toyota and Honda, you look Screwed too.
downtoearth 7:40AM (12/16/2008)
rob said...
"And because you're all remembering the Brilliance BS6's first Euro crash tests, I went looking and found an F3 getting a standard frontal offset test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAskc...eature=related
It appears to do exactly what is supposed to happen... "
What are you trying to prove??
Your link is broken. Mine isn't.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=byd+f3+crash+test
http://tinyurl.com/BYD-F3-EuroNCAP-Compliant-Test
And there is not getting away from fact that the car, judging from the outlook of how the crumple zone worked and how the passenger safety cell remained intact, performed very well.
Full-on plug-in hybrid for the price of a Prius or Jetta TDI which may never need refueling? I take it.
BYD claims very long battery lifetime.
aron 11:45PM (12/17/2008)
Re: Mike!!ekiM
No, it's not a cultural thing. However, when they got screwed over the past 100 years with the Westerners bringing in opium to poison the populace and carving up their country with bogus "treaties", then leave them to the communist wave after WW2 instead of helping out the fledgling Nationalists, you can understand why they turn around and do the same.
DTD 12:32AM (12/16/2008)
BYD is a company led by a true visionary. Warren Buffett understands full well what he is buying into. BYD and other Chinese battery makers in the LiFePo4 business are actually years ahead of the rest of the world. This includes the Japanese and the Koreans. Even if the rest of the world catches up with the Chinese in the LiFePo4 technology space, the Chinese still has a natural advantage. This natural advantage is the fact that China has the world's largest lithium deposit. The Japanese and the Koreans have none. This is why BYD can charge only $6000 more per car for the DM power pack. GM and Toyota are screwed before they even made it into the show room with their plug-in hybrids. How many people are going to pay $40,000 for a Chevy Volt? The kind of owners who are trying to pinch pennies on gas will find themselves a little outclassed by the Volt's asking price.
Reply
xyl 11:48AM (12/16/2008)
If you read Chinese or you can find a good translation software, here are test drive comments and photos:
http://auto.china.com/zh_cn/mill/byd/car/11063651/20081209/15226171.html
and
http://auto.china.com/zh_cn/mill/byd/car/11063651/20081210/15228089.html
its sibling (F3) passes Euro NCAP standard in Crash test:
http://www.chinacartimes.com/2008/01/19/byd-f3-passes-russian-crash-test-with-decent-results/
Overall,
- it performs as advertised.
- low cost (compare to other giants...)
- available now!!
- The crash test done by Russian give its gasoline sibling a pass for Euro NCAP standards.
Let's see how reliable the DM module is in next few months.
Reply
koster 4:01AM (12/17/2008)
See more than a few responses, it appears to focus on car safety, all aspects of performance. But I want to say, we value this car's core technology.
F3DM dual-mode electric vehicle of choice of high-capacity battery pack iron, to make full use of the advantages in the form of electric drive in pure electric (EV) mode, F3DM dual-mode life mileage of electric cars for more than 100KM, fully meet the day-to-day office workers to work on the With no oil.
Means that the auto industry into the "0" of the electric oil era, the development of the car on the subversive significance
Let us imagine, if a modern city. All modes of transport will no longer use oil as a driving force will be able to produce much benefit?. When the American people in order to invade Iraq and oil resources, we Chinese people to the earth's environment as well as the peaceful development , A new technology to replace its own oil resources. As a sustainable development! It is clear that Mr. Buffett's investment BYD is correct, justified! Finally, I want to say. I am an ordinary Chinese youth
Reply
Serge 10:35AM (12/17/2008)
I'm impressed. BYD is the first world car maker to deliver a highway-capable plug-in hybrid.
Personally, I'd prefer the power-train from F3DM put into e6 hatchback body. My trust in safety will be earned when I see a 4-5 star NHTSA ratings for BYD products.
It would be interesting to see them buy one of the distressed U.S. automakers and turn those plants around to crank out F3DMs / e6s.
Reply
LoveBug 4:48PM (12/21/2008)
OMG !!! Was that the exact duplicate of the late model Accord?
That explain why the folks at Honda was so unimpressed. The Chinese are definitely good at copy others stuffs, but come up with their own. Shameful!!!
Reply
bduddy 10:34PM (12/27/2008)
Is there any late-model sedan that isn't a copy of the Accord?
Skippic 3:22AM (2/06/2009)
Lol, you say it's an exact duplicate of the Accord and many say it's an exact copy of the Toyota Corolla. Therefore we come to the conclusion, that today many cars are similar or Honda and Toyota copy its respective designs.