AutoblogGreen

BYD will supply up to 10 all-electric buses to Windsor, Ontario

Danny King — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, North America, BYD

Some Americans may derisively refer to Canada as the 51st state, but when it comes to BYD's all-electric buses, them Maple Leafs have left us behind.

The City of Windsor, Ontario, which is right across the river from Detroit, will be the first North American municipality to have a fleet of all-electric buses made by China-based BYD.

Transit Windsor signed a letter of intent to buy as many as 10 buses this year. Windsor leaders cited, among other things, the fact that the buses' batteries don't consist of any heavy metals or toxic electrolytes. BYD and local utility company Enwin Utilities also reached an agreement for the buses' batteries to be reused for stationary power storage after they outlive their use powering the 40-foot-long buses.

BYD, whose investors include Warren Buffet, has gradually picked up business from various municipalities for its battery-electric buses. Last June, BYD, which opened its North American headquarters in Los Angeles late last year, reached agreements with both the city of Frankfurt, Germany, and with Singapore.

BYD says its eBUS-12 can go as far as 186 miles on a single charge and can be recharged in as little as 30 minutes with BYD's own 600-kilowatt rapid charging system.

Continue reading BYD will supply up to 10 all-electric buses to Windsor, Ontario

BYD will supply up to 10 all-electric buses to Windsor, Ontario originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD brings Denza EV, Qin plug-in hybrid to Beijing

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:47:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, Daimler, BYD

BYD is making multiple splashes at the Beijing, both with its own line-up of vehicles and its new Denza electric vehicle partnership with Daimler.

This is the first time we have seen the Denza vehicle, and it's got some interesting touches. The cabin is easy-access thanks to rear suicide doors that open up to a "lounge" style rear seats (according to Denza, anyway) that contains chrome, wood and copper features as well as an "ambient light system that runs all throughout the cabin making night driving more pleasant without compromising safety." The all-electric car is being called a "New Energy Vehicle" (NEV) but important details like battery size, price, range, etc. are not available yet. The car doesn't seem to have a name - it is identified simply as Denza's "new all-electric vehicle show car" - but it is being developed for the Chinese market with an expected arrival in 2013. Prototypes are being tested now, and Denza says that the number of NEVs in China could hit 5 million by 2020.

The BYD-branded models on display include the Qin (pronounced but not written "Chin," as BYD PR said the other day) plug-in hybrid and the F3 Plus. The Qin has an all-electric range of 31 miles and uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that puts out 223 kW of power and 440 Nm (295 pound-feet) of torque. The Qin's 0-62 mile per hour time is 6.9 seconds and top speed is 115 mph. All this with 118 MPGe. You can read more about the BYD models here and take a look at pictures of the Qin on stage in the gallery below.

Continue reading BYD brings Denza EV, Qin plug-in hybrid to Beijing

BYD brings Denza EV, Qin plug-in hybrid to Beijing originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD's Beijing Motor Show line-up includes Chin Dual Mode, remote-controlled F3

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, BYD

Looks like we got the name wrong, or at least the English version. Instead of Qin, as we noted yesterday, the new plug-in vehicle that BYD is going to unveil at the Beijing Motor Show next week will be called Chin. That's it in the picture above.

BYD says the Chin will "Lead the EV way" with the new Dual Mode II system that beats the old F3DM "in efficiency, power and energy-saving." BYD says that the the Chin gets roughly 120 MPGe (specifically, BYD says it takes two liters to go 100 kilometers, or .53 gallons per 62 miles). The press release also says that the Chin "requires just 16RMB of energy per 100km," which is a slightly confusing (because RMB is the abbreviation for China's currency) to say that it costs around $2.50 U.S to go 62 miles. To go with the electric car, BYD is also going to unveil its "Bi-directional Inverter Charging and Discharging Technology" that will allow energy from the battery pack to be used for offboard power.

BYD will also display the second-generation F3, called the F3 Plus. This car doesn't have an alternative powertrain, but it does have "world-leading Remote Control Driving technology," which turns the car into a life-size RC vehicle. To wit:

With the key in his or her hands, the driver can make the car start, move forward and back, turn left and right, and travel at a restricted speed all by itself, without the driver even being in the vehicle. It is a perfect solution when the parking space is not wide enough for the driver to exit the car once parked. In windy and rainy weather, drivers can even remotely move the car to his or her side without getting wet.

This certainly something worth investigating, if only to understand the limits of what it can do. Mostly, we're interested in seeing if we can get the F3 to rush to our side like the Batmobile.

Continue reading BYD's Beijing Motor Show line-up includes Chin Dual Mode, remote-controlled F3

BYD's Beijing Motor Show line-up includes Chin Dual Mode, remote-controlled F3 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD's Qin sedan will replace poor-selling F3DM

Danny King — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:50:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Asia, BYD

Looks like DM might stand for "done model."

BYD is unveiling a new plug-in hybrid-electric model at this month's Beijing Motor Show that will replace the Chinese automaker's F3DM (pictured), which sold just 80 units since debuting in 2009, Technologic Vehicles reports.

BYD says the new model, called the Qin, can go from 0-62 miles per hour in less than seven seconds because of lighter batteries, according to the publication, who said the model's look was "fluid and incisive." The F3DM was a plug-in electric with an on-board gas-powered range extender.

BYD launched the F3DM (the DM actually stands for "dual mode") in 2009 after showing off the model, which looked somewhat like a Toyota Corolla, at that year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The F3DM was said to have a 0-60 miles per hour acceleration time of 10.5 seconds and could run for 62 miles on electric power alone.

In late 2010, BYD and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) reached an agreement to test out the F3DM. Over the next two months, one of the city's housing inspectors said some of his electric-only trips exceeded 50 miles and that he'd only used a half-tank of gas, according to Plugin Cars. Last year, BYD opened its North American headquarters in Los Angeles.

Earlier this week, the company said its all-electric E6 would be available for sale in the U.S. by the end of the year, though the company had previously made similar claims about 2010 and 2011. BYD has said the car has a totally impressive 186-mile single-charge range. BYD also has an agreement to build a battery-electric vehicle with Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG and recently named that brand Denza. The brand's first car is slated to start production next year.

BYD's Qin sedan will replace poor-selling F3DM originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD e6 available to U.S. consumers in 2010 2011 2012 2013; Hertz gets it first

Domenick Yoney — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA, BYD

The BYD E6 is a football. No, not a political one like the Chevy Volt. Rather, it is the pigskin that the cartoon character Lucy would hold in place, but then snatch away when Charlie Brown's ever-hopeful foot was in mid-swing.

BYD has, yet again, placed an example of its all-electric e6 crossover on display at an American auto show and is, once more, teasing us with promises of bringing it to the U.S. market. This time, for reals. Yeah, we've heard similar claims about 2010, which were then changed to 2011. Then shifted to 2012 and, later, mid-2012.

Now, BYD USA president Michael Austin says that the vehicle will be certified for sale in the U.S. before the end of the year and, after first being made available to fleets such as Hertz (with whom BYD already has a relationship), will be offered for sale to consumers. There is, however, one slight caveat. He also mentioned that would only happen when the charging network is further developed.

Apparently, the company doesn't believe that charging infrastructure in the U.S. has evolved to the point where the E6, with its 186-mile estimated range, is yet practical for buyers. This was, if you'll recall, also last year's stated excuse for the delays. While it it tempting to point out that the 73-mile Nissan Leaf has sold over 11,000 units in the past year and so this is really a poor pretense, we will refrain.

Instead, we will point to the fact the BYD actually has an American headquarters and remind ourselves that we've spoken to at least one dealer who has one on hand for prospective buyers to check out. We can't help but wonder though if, by the time it goes on sale, the BYD vehicle will actually be branded a Denza.

BYD e6 available to U.S. consumers in ~~2010~~ ~~2011~~ ~~2012~~ 2013; Hertz gets it first originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler-BYD electric-vehicle brand to be called Denza

Danny King — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Asia, Germany, Daimler, BYD

Think Denza, as in Tony, but with an e.

Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG and China-based BYD will name the battery-electric vehicle brand they're building together Denza.

Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd. (BDNT) will show a concept Denza EV at the Auto China 2012 trade show in Beijing later this month. The 50-50 joint-venture, which was formed in May 2010 and which said last October that it would unveil the EV this April, will start production of the EV next year. Last October, the Chinese patent bureau leaked images of the EV, which will likely be based on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class platform.

The name Denza stems from the Chinese characters that mean a combination of "rising power" and "momentum."

Daimler and BYD are looking to capitalize on a China EV market expected to surge during the next few years. Green technology firm Pike Research said in a report last year that China will account for more than 550,000 EV sales in 2015, up from about 30,000 in 2010, and the country will overtake Japan as the largest battery-electric vehicle maker in the Asia-Pacific region.

Continue reading Daimler-BYD electric-vehicle brand to be called Denza

Daimler-BYD electric-vehicle brand to be called Denza originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think may be bankrupt, but cars are still available

Domenick Yoney — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Th!nk (Think), USA, BYD

If you were smitten by the little electric Think City and thought the company's recent bankruptcy put the kibosh on your chances of ever owning one of the plastic-paneled car, then *ahem, think again. It seems there are still some of the city runabouts to be had if you look in the right place.

One such location is Green Wheels in Chicago, IL. The dealership, as the name suggests, specializes in all-electric and hybrid vehicles and has a couple post-rebated demos on hand they can sell for as low as $17,995. If you're willing to lay out $31,500 for a brand-new one - and remember, there are rebates still available in some states that can bring that initial sticker down below $20,000 - they have a couple of those as well and say that they have access to more. While that price is nicely down from the pre-bankruptcy $36,495 MSRP, it's a little uncomfortably close to that of the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i. Still, we liked the little coupe when we drove it and for some, this car just might be the bee's knees.

If you do happen to make the trip to Green Wheels, you might also get a chance to see the BYD e6 in person. The dealership will be offering the Chinese all-electric crossover later this year and already has one on the lot you can look over.

Think may be bankrupt, but cars are still available originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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China tells cities to get their EV plans on, BYD stock shoots upward

Domenick Yoney — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, China, BYD

BYD has had its struggles in recent times but finally some good news has seen the Chinese battery and auto manufacturer get a nice little spike in its share price. The news? The powers that be in China have signaled they are still serious about pushing the adoption of electric transportation.

There are 25 cities with programs intended to boost the sales of EVs but. apparently, they are not moving forward fast enough. To encourage them to speed things up, authorities, including those at the National Development and Reform Commission, have issued a joint statement calling on those project participants to get on with the job of organizing the installation of charging points and allow EV buyers to forgo the license plate lotteries and auctions.

After shooting upwards on the news Monday and Tuesday, BYD stock has started to level off somewhat. Of course, day-to-day stock price changes aren't a great way to evaluate the overall progress of a company but dramatic shifts can be informative.

If you'd like to give BYD a hand in conquering the U.S. market, you can "Like" its Facebook page where they are accepting suggestions for a new, better name for e6 all-electric crossover.

China tells cities to get their EV plans on, BYD stock shoots upward originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD starts electric e6 retail sales in China

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, BYD

The launch of BYD's plug-in vehicles has not gone as planned. The Chinese company's all-electric e6 has been delayed in the U.S. (in part because of a lack of infrastructure, the company says) and the plug-in hybrid F3DM did not sell well at all. In the recent past, profits tumbled and EV production plans were scaled back.

Still, the Warren Buffett-backed company is moving forward, and the e6 went on sale Wednesday to the public in China. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that the car costs over 300,000 yuan ($47,166 U.S. at current exchange rates). That may be high, but BYD is still claiming impressive specs for its iron phosphate battery-powered car: a range of up to 186 miles in urban conditions and a fast recharge time of just 40 minutes using a 100kW fast charging station. Throw in a top speed of 87 miles per hour and some big government incentives to go electric, and we wonder if this could be the vehicle that turns BYD's dreams around.

BYD starts electric e6 retail sales in China originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD says electric e6 delayed due to lack of U.S. plug-in infrastructure

Eric Loveday — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA, BYD

It's coming in 2010. Scratch that. How about 2011? Oh shucks, that's impossible, too. Let's shoot for 2012. BYD Auto constantly alters the U.S. launch date of the electric e6 crossover. But this latest bit of info should relieve us of reporting further delays.

When BYD announced its U.S. scheme, the automaker claimed retail sales of the e6 electric MPV would start no later than December of 2010. Now, BYD is saying that its primary focus is on fleet sales, particularly of its electric eBus-12.

BYD says the e6 is constantly delayed because the U.S. lacks a sufficient charging infrastructure, even claiming that California doesn't have enough infrastructure. So, why won't we have to report further e6 delays? Because Micheal Austin, BYD's U.S. vice-president, told Bloomberg, "We still have ambitions to jump into the consumer market, but until the infrastructure issue is solved, why would we?" Given that the BYD can now declare the problem "solved" any time it pleases, we expect it not to do so until the e6 is ready.

BYD says electric e6 delayed due to lack of U.S. plug-in infrastructure originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler BYD electric vehicle renderings leak out

Eric Loveday — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, Daimler, BYD

Back in May of 2010, BYD and Daimler formed a joint venture to manufacture electric vehicles exclusively for the China. Today, we present to you the first renderings of the EV from the Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd.

The renderings come directly from the Chinese patent bureau, which seems to leak images in streams. The patent application implies the design of the vehicle is finalized, which Daimler chief executive officer, Dieter Zetsche, confirmed in early October. We expect the Daimler-BYD electric vehicle to makes its official debut of April 2012.

Click here to check out additional renderings of the unnamed Daimler-BYD electric vehicle. Word is the electric-only vehicle will be based on the current Mercedes-Benz B-Class, so checking out Autoblog's First Drive of the diesel-engined 2012 B-Class here might shed some light on the new EV.

Daimler BYD electric vehicle renderings leak out originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler BYD electric vehicle to debut in April of 2012

Eric Loveday — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:11:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, Daimler, BYD

The design is "frozen," according Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche and the vehicle is "on track."

Those words from Zetsche refer to an upcoming electric vehicle, which stems from the joint venture between Daimler and China's BYD - official name: Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd. What Zetsche is implying is that the development of the JV's first electric vehicle is complete and that it will debut as planned in April of 2012. To get this far, it appears that Daimler had to do much of the heavy lifting - Zetsche told Inside Line that the "breakthrough" battery technology BYD was supposed to have doesn't exist - even though his company remains "very confident about [BYD]."

There are still concerns that BYD's struggles - including laying off of thousands of employees - could spell the end of the Daimler-BYD deal. That seems like it's not the case, but China's apparent lack of love for plug-ins could be one issue that even the Daimler-BYD JV will fail to overcome. Whatever happens in the government, big EV incentives remain on the books, and they may go far to spur purchases.

Daimler BYD electric vehicle to debut in April of 2012 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD continues to struggle, massive layoffs coming soon

Eric Loveday — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, BYD

Chinese automaker BYD, backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, continues to tumble down a rocky road.

On Wednesday, Shanghai Daily reported that BYD is expected to lay off up to 70 percent of its workforce after a decline in sales led to a net profit of only 266.74 million yuan ($41.2 million U.S. at the current exchange rate) in the first quarter of 2011. Shanghai Daily claims BYD will cut its numbers of sales-unit employees from 2,600 down to 800 by year's end and says that some of BYD's sales staff have already been dismissed. Job cuts are soon expected to reach other BYD departments.

Independent automotive analyst Zhong Shi says:

BYD had been quite aggressive in expanding production and hiring employees. But the drop in sales and profit slump have triggered higher pressure on cost and so job cuts are inevitable.

BYD's sales reportedly dropped off after the Chinese government ended purchase incentives. The Chinese automaker endured even more pain when General Motors and Volkswagen rolled in with price-competitive, entry-level vehicles. Will BYD rebound from its struggles? Or is the automaker that urges you to build your dreams running out of time?

BYD continues to struggle, massive layoffs coming soon originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Moving forward? China rethinking plug-in vehicle policy

Eric Loveday — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:05:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, China, BYD

Beijing appears to be rethinking its singular focus on electric vehicles as a way to reduce fuel consumption and seems ready to revise its alternative-energy vehicle estimates as it becomes increasingly evident that the city's electric vehicle targets were completely unrealistic.

Beijing - and in some ways, the whole of China - had set out to leapfrog conventional engine technology by developing and manufacturing huge amounts of electric vehicles. In particular, the city had hoped its push to develop plug-ins would give it an advantage over the West in electric vehicle technology. But hopes and dreams don't always jive with reality.

Plug-in vehicle sales in China have been poor and, even though no formal decision has been taken to abandon the nation's grand electric vehicle scheme, some higher-ups in Beijing are reportedly rethinking the policy. For example, The Globe and Mail reports:

Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, reflected intense debate within the bureaucracy recently when he published an article in a Communist Party journal questioning China's road map toward alternative powertrain vehicles.

Meanwhile, Peter Huang, powertrain forecast manager at IHS Automotive in Shanghai, expects Beijing to broader its approach and look into "hybrids and all vehicles that can reduce fuel consumption."

Forbes presents a compelling story on this notion that China and its sole focus on electric vehicles don't mix. Here's a particularly striking excerpt:

Take Warren Buffett. In September 2008, the "Oracle of Omaha" took a 10-percent stake in BYD, the Shenzhen-based battery and vehicle maker, for $200 million. The move landed him on the cover of Fortune in 2009, inside the company's e6 model with the now-famous caption, "Warren Buffett hasn't just seen the car of the future, he's sitting in the driver's seat."

But was he really sitting in the vehicle of future? Forbes says BYD has sold a grand total of 53 (!) e6s since March of 2010, with nearly all of those going to local taxi companies, which leads us to this question: How can a vehicle that doesn't sell represent the future?

Moving forward? China rethinking plug-in vehicle policy originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hertz Global Electric Vehicle program expands to China

Eric Loveday — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, BYD

Hertz Rent-a-Car has announced the expansion of its Global Electric Vehicle initiative to China, making Hertz the first rental agency to offer plug-in vehicles on three continents (North America, Europe and Asia).

To make rental electric vehicles feasible in China, Hertz is taking a three-pronged approach:

Hertz commenced an alliance with General Electric Industrial Solutions China to develop an infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Hertz will participate in the China (Shanghai) International EV Pilot City to propel its electric vehicle rental program and to promote the benefits of electric transport.
Hertz teamed with BYD, the China's largest automaker, to combine electrical vehicle sales and leasing as a mobility solution for government agencies.

In its first year of existence, the Hertz Global Electric Vehicle initiative has grown from a dreamy vision to a reality in more than ten U.S. cities, offering a diversified fleet of plug-in vehicles from manufactures, including Nissan, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi and Tesla.

Continue reading Hertz Global Electric Vehicle program expands to China

Hertz Global Electric Vehicle program expands to China originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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China's BYD to sell electric eBUS-12s to Taiwan

Eric Loveday — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Asia, China, BYD

BYD may be struggling to launch its electric e6 crossover and its F3DM plug-in hybrid sedan here in the States, but the Chinese automotive juggernaut appears to have no problem lining up sales for its electric eBUS-12 in Asia.

Following the signing of an agreement to sell its eBUS-12 in Singapore, BYD has inked another coach-related deal, this time in Taiwan. BYD announced it will start shipping electric buses to Taiwan by the end of 2011 and there's even some indication that BYD will construct an electric bus factory in Taiwan in the not-so-distant future.

BYD says orders for its eBUS-12 have far exceeded production volume, meaning that only a portion of the existing orders can be filled. The Chinese automaker says orders for the zero-emissions bus are pouring in from China, Europe and the United States. Deliveries to the States are tentatively slated to commence in 2012. We'll see how those pan out.

China's BYD to sell electric eBUS-12s to Taiwan originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How can BYD fix its troubles?

Eric Loveday — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, China, BYD

Chinese automaker BYD, backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, may be headed down a rocky road. According to Daily Finance, BYD's troubles aren't limited to profits tumbling. In fact, Daily Finance hints that BYD will need to step up its game to keep Buffet from bailing out entirely.

Troubles at BYD have cast doubt on the automaker's ambitious goals and, increasingly, on its continued existence. Daily Finance says, "Shoddy manufacturing, cheap materials, models that looked suspiciously like Toyota clones, concerns about the actual quality of BYD's battery technology, and sharp declines in sales" have raised concerns over BYD's automotive future.

Time for a turnaround, it seems. Daily Finance says the only way BYD can recover is by launching fresh vehicles to spark buyer interest. The automaker's once-popular F3 and F6 have fizzled and, with BYD so intent on launching plug-in vehicles, the Chinese automaker may be writing its own eulogy. You see, plug-in vehicles don't sell in quantity in China and BYD's millions of dollars spent on advanced battery technology have, so far, been wasted, says Daily Finance.

The rebound? Daily Finance says BYD's future lies in the automaker's ability to overcome quality concerns, to sell its plug-in vehicles for profit in mass quantities and, most importantly, to keep Buffet from abandoning ship.

How can BYD fix its troubles? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD still says electric e6 with 150-mile range is coming to U.S. in mid-2012

Eric Loveday — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BYD

BYD e6-Eco

At the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, Michael Austin, BYD Motors vice-president of marketing and public relations, confirmed U.S. pricing for the automaker's electric e6 crossover and its F3DM plug-in hybrid sedan. It was at that time that Austin revealed that BYD intends to sell "tens of thousands" of each vehicle here in the States by the end of 2012. Well, not much has changed 'cept that it's now Stella Li, senior vice-president of BYD, confirming the automaker is on track for its mid-2012 retail launch of the e6.

Li told Plugin Cars that e6 sales to consumers will commence in the second quarter of 2012. Furthermore, Li claims that BYD's pair of electrified vehicles have passed the U.S.' required safety tests and that the results will be released in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Talking range, Li claims the e6's massive 60-kWh battery pack is good for up to 150 miles, even with the A/C cranking and the vehicle encountering some hills. Li says that, in the city, the e6 has an honest 200-mile range and claims, "Nobody can really compete with us." Nobody? Perhaps BYD is purposely overlooking the rangy Tesla Roadster.

[Source: Plugin Cars]

BYD still says electric e6 with 150-mile range is coming to U.S. in mid-2012 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD signs 500-unit electric vehicle deal with city of Shenzhen

Eric Loveday — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, China, BYD

BYD eBUS-12

BYD Auto has inked an electric vehicle-related contract with the Chinese city of Shenzhen. Terms of the deal call for BYD to lease 200 eBUS-12 electric buses and 300 battery-powered e6 crossovers to the city of Shenzhen. The electrified vehicles will serves as people-haulers during Universiade 2011, an international multi-sport competitive event held in mid-August.

After the games come to an end, the electric vehicles will enter Shenzhen's public transportation system. This lease contract is reported to be one of the largest public-use electric vehicle deals ever signed by an automaker.

In a recent statement, BYD claimed that e6 and eBUS-12 testing has been "extremely successful for over a year." When fully charged, both the eBUS-12 and the e6 can supposedly go up to 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) under optimal conditions. BYD e6 taxis have been servicing Shenzhen, China for well over than a year. To date, the fleet of 50 electric taxis have accumulated more than three million kilometers (1.86 million miles).

[Source: Edmunds' Auto Observer]

BYD signs 500-unit electric vehicle deal with city of Shenzhen originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BYD says 2011 Q1 profit tumbled 84.4%

Eric Loveday — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:23:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, China, BYD

Chinese automaker BYD, backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, says its net profit for the first quarter of 2011 fell 84.4 percent year-on-year. In a filing last Wednesday, BYD reported its 2011 Q1 net profit of 266.74 million yuan ($41.2 million U.S. at the current exchange rate), compared to 1.70 billion yuan ($263 million U.S.) for the first quarter of 2010.

The decrease, according to BYD chairman Wang Chuan-fu, was "mainly due to a decline in the performance of the automobile business, coupled with the effect of increased management expenses and finance expenses."

Operating revenue for the quarter fell to 11.71 billion yuan ($1.81 billion U.S.) as vehicle sales plummeted due to the expiration of incentives and intensifying competition. Of course, none of this bodes well for BYD's future here in the States. With the automaker struggling in China, we'd venture to guess that BYD's optimistic U.S. sales goals might be scaled back a bit.

[Source: Reuters]

BYD says 2011 Q1 profit tumbled 84.4% originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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