Detroit 2009: BYD F3DM is the poor man's plug-in Toyota Corolla

Click above for high-res gallery of the BYD F3DM
With the departure of a number of automakers from this year's North American International Auto Show, the Chinese found themselves in an unfamiliar location: smack in the middle of the Detroit Auto Show. 2009 is the first time that China's automakers have been able to find space to rent on the main show floor -- in years past, they were confined to Michigan Hall, nicknamed "The Basement" by journalists. Taking full advantage of the larger forum, BYD unveiled what it is billing as the world's first production plug-in hybrid, the F3DM Dual Mode. Thankfully, BYD thoughtfully left their cars uncovered earlier in the show, and we were able to get the shots you see here without wading through the crowds.
Powered by a 1.0-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, BYD says their Toyota Corolla lookalike boasts 168-horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. So equipped, the car can reach 60 miles-per-hour in 10.5 seconds, although it tops out at just 93 mph. More importantly, officials claim that the F3DM will run purely on battery power for 62 miles(!). BYD says the car's Fe battery packs reach a 50% charge in just ten minutes, and a full charge can be obtained in just seven hours from a standard power outlet. Oddly, the very same press release notes that the Fe battery in the company's E6 crossover can be fully recharged in 60 minutes.
We look forward to getting hold of one of these vehicles to verify some of these remarkable claims, but in the meantime we'll have to amuse ourselves with the notion that BYD calls this car a "dual mode hybrid" because it can run on electricity alone or on a combination of battery power and internal combustion. Hmmm...
Gallery: Detroit 2009: BYF F3DM
Gallery: 2009 BYD F3DM
PRESS RELEASE:
As the latest star in a rapidly expanding portfolio of green, high-tech products, the all-new BYD e6 electric vehicle is being unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The five-passenger e6 will be marketed as a family-oriented crossover vehicle.
The pure-electric e6 features BYD's revolutionary battery technology - what we call the Fe battery. The range per charge is expected to be a remarkable 249mi (400km). Performance is surprisingly brisk, with 0-60mph (0-100km/h) acceleration in less than 8 seconds and a projected top speed of 100mph (160km/h).
The Right Size
What sets the e6 apart from other pure electric vehicles are its size and performance. With current battery capacity limited, most other manufacturers have elected to focus on small, lightweight EVs that stress efficiency over performance and range.
BYD, as a young brand with a rich history of IT development and cutting-edge battery R&D, has the drive and extroverted personality to take an unconventional approach and manufacture cars that embody the company's slogan, Build Your Dreams. That's the spirit and underlying philosophy behind the e6.
The high-tech e6 boasts the exterior dimensions of a typical American family vehicle, with ample interior space that provides substantial legroom and headroom for passengers, plus a generous luggage compartment. The e6 measures 179.3 inches (4554mm) long, 71.7 inches (1822mm) wide and 64.2 inches (1630mm) tall.
Convenient and Eco-Friendly
The pure-electric e6 is environmentally friendly, eliminating toxic emissions and greenhouse gases while driving. BYD's new Fe battery takes this "green" philosophy a step further: All chemical substances used in the battery can be recycled.
And while the range of many electric vehicles is restricted by their battery capacity, making it inconvenient to travel long distances, the BYD e6, with its high-efficiency Fe battery, can go up to 249 miles (400km) on a single charge. That makes the e6 suitable for daily commutes, around-town chores and even long journeys.
The Fe battery pack in the e6 can be quick-charged to 50 percent of itscapacity in 10 minutes, and 100 percent of its capacity in 60 minutes
The BYD F3DM Dual Mode electric vehicle is based on the standard gasoline model BYD F3, which is one of China's best-selling cars. The DM designation stands for Dual Mode, which indicates the vehicle can run on either pure battery power or a combination of gasoline and electricity.
The F3DM extends the range, performance and fuel economy of the F3. The F3DM features a small gasoline engine, a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor and BYD's high-efficiency Fe battery pack.
The 1.0-liter gasoline engine and electric motor deliver a combined 168hp (125kw) and 295 lb-ft (400Nm) of torque. The combined range is 360miles (580km), with 0-60 mph acceleration in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 93mph (150km/h). On battery power alone, the F3DM has a range of 62 miles (100km).
The F3DM's Fe battery pack can be quick-charged to 50 percent of its capacity in only 10 minutes. It can be fully recharged from a normal household power outlet in seven hours.
The BYD F6DM Dual Mode electric vehicle is based on the standard gasoline model BYD F6.
Like the F3DM, the larger and more luxurious F6DM features a small gasoline engine, a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor and BYD's high-efficiency Fe battery pack to extend the range, performance and fuel economy of the F6.
The F6DM shares the F3DM's 1.0-liter gasoline engine and electric motor, which deliver a combined 168hp (125kw) and 295 lb-ft (400Nm) of torque. The combined range is 267 miles (430km), with 0-60 mph acceleration in 13.0 seconds and a top speed of 93mph (150km/h). On battery power alone, the F6DM has a range of 62 miles (100km).
The F6DM's Fe battery pack can be quick-charged to 50 percent of its capacity in only 10 minutes. It can be fully recharged from a normal household power outlet in seven hours.
BYD is introducing a new version of its high-end F6 sedan - the F6 CVT, featuring a continuously variable transmission and a powerful, efficient 2.0-liter gasoline engine.
The BYD483QB four-cylinder engine delivers 138hp (103kW) and 137 lb-ft (186Nm) of torque. It is mated to a three-mode CVT transmission, which includes driving mode, sports mode and manual mode.
Among the amenities on the F6 CVT are a multimedia entertainment system, GPS navigation, radar backup system, dual-zone climate controls and an adjustable steering wheel.
The F6 CVT is outfitted with such advanced safety features as front and side air bags and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD).
BYD sees environmental responsibility as a core value and a critical factor in the company's long-term success. For that reason, it spent three years and thousands of hours to design, engineer and develop its new minicompact, the BYD F0.
The F0 hatchback combines a jaunty design in a popular size and shape with BYD's own unique cues and characteristics. It is brimming with premium fashion features: A dynamic exterior and warm, inviting cabin are specially designed for the new generation. By building in high quality at an affordable price, the BYD F0 promises to attract a wide range of buyers looking for a great value without compromising safety, performance or fuel economy.
The F0 sports a peanut-like shape and an animated face with fluid headlamps and a distinctive grille. The interior is comfortable and friendly, with white-LED instrumentation that pops out of a soft blue background. The integrated rear seats can be completely folded to provide additional space. An adjustable steering wheel provides additional flexibility.
The F0 is powered by a lightweight BYD371QA all-aluminum 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine fitted with Bosch electronic control systems to help enhance fuel efficiency and meet stringent emission standards.
The ride is stable and controlled, thanks to a relatively long wheelbase and a well-engineered suspension system that includes MacPherson struts in front, a torsion-beam setup in the rear and a stabilizer bar to help minimize body roll.
Safety features include air bags and ABS with electronic brake-force distribution.
BYD, a global leader in advanced battery and electronics technology, has devoted thousands of hours and hundreds of millions of dollars to the development of new-energy vehicles and systems. Chief among the company's core values is to provide consumers around the globe with safe, efficient and environmentally friendly products.
BYD began research and development of electric-vehicle batteries in 1996. In late 2002, the company formally established the Electric Vehicle Project Department, launching an R&D program on pure electric vehicles. Four years later, in 2006, this group evolved into an independent division with more than 1,000 engineers, focused on research, development and pre-production of electric vehicles and components for new-energy vehicles, including pure electric vehicles and Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicles.
BYD Fe Battery
BYD's advanced Fe battery is notable not only for its efficiency, but also for its high degree of safety. During rigorous testing that included impact, crush, nail penetration, and high/low temperatures, the Fe battery remained intact, with no evidence of leakage or overheating.
Further, the Fe battery has proved rugged and durable, good for 2000 cycles (fully charged and discharged).
Besides safety and long cycle life, low cost is another key factor in commercializing EVs. The price of iron is well below the price of other battery ingredients, such as cobalt; thus, the cost of BYD's Fe battery is far below that of Li-ion cobalt batteries.
The production and use of the Fe battery is eco-friendly: No pollution or harmful emissions during production, and the material and chemicals used in the Fe battery are completely recyclable.
Thanks to its long experience and leading position as one of the world's top battery manufacturers, BYD also has the knowledge and ability to maintain the high degree of consistency and quality required to produce advanced, high-tech batteries that are 100% defect-free.
BYD DM Technology
BYD has been working to resolve several challenges in developing new-energy vehicles, including the cost of battery packs and the limited range of most current pure-electric vehicles between battery recharges, a condition which also applies to hybrid electric vehicles when operating in electric mode.
Thus was born BYD's Dual Mode series - DM for short.
BYD's Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicles combine a pure-electric mode with a hybrid drive system that incorporates a small gasoline engine. The Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicle system integrates an advanced generator and motor controller, which results in lower fuel consumption and emissions, as well as higher power and performance.
As the Dual Mode name implies, the DM system takes advantage of multiple energy supplies via recharging and refueling. If we refer to the pure electric mode as EV and the hybrid electric mode as HEV, then BYD's DM is simply "EV+HEV." We believe this advanced system eventually will take the place of more conventional hybrid systems, and become the most popular hybrid vehicle system in the world.
EV + HEV
The BYD DM is a Dual Mode electric vehicle system which brings together an Fe battery pack, a facility for recharging the battery from an external power source and control software that allows a deeper battery cycle so that the vehicle can operate solely on electricity over short distances (typically up to 60 miles) until the battery charge level is almost exhausted.
In our daily lives, most people (about 95%) will drive fewer than 60 miles per day. BYD's Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicles can run at zero-fuel-consumption and zero-emission levels under the pure EV driving mode. When the vehicle needs more power to accelerate, a gasoline engine and an electric motor drive the wheels together to provide greater output and torque.
Under deceleration and braking, the electric motor acts as a generator to recover kinetic energy and convert it to electrical energy, which is stored in the high-performance battery for later use as motive power. Thus, with a perfect integration of electric motor and gasoline engine, BYD's Dual Mode electric vehicles can run up to 360 miles (580km) on a single battery charge and a full tank of gasoline.
During typical operation, the electric motor uses the energy stored during regenerative braking, enabling the gasoline engine to be used primarily in its more efficient operating range. The electric motor also provides maximum torque from standstill, as well as providing additional torque for acceleration, enabling the use of a smaller gasoline engine.
BYD's Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicle system uses a small gasoline engine and an electric motor with a combined output of 168hp (125kW). This Dual Mode drivetrain performs like a standard 2.4-liter gasoline engine, although at much lower cost, to give owners a new driving experience.
The Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicle system developed by BYD provides owners with greater convenience, since the vehicle can be recharged using a normal household power outlet instead of a commercial charging station. The Fe battery can be charged to 50% power via quick charge in 10 minutes, and 100% via household charge in seven hours.
BYD Auto is a subsidiary of BYD Company Ltd., which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In 2003, the parent company became the world's second largest rechargeable-battery producer. In the same year, BYD Auto Company Ltd. was founded.
Today, BYD's nickel batteries, mobile-phone lithium-ion batteries and mobile-phone components occupy the major shares in their respective global market segments. BYD has more than 130,000 employees worldwide, and its market value has surpassed $7 billion.
From the first day of its founding, BYD Auto has devoted itself to the research, development and manufacture of world-class products, including electric vehicles and Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicles. Aiming to meet the increasing demands of global customers and relying upon BYD's unparalleled strength in technology and capital while leveraging China's abundant manufacturing resources, BYD Auto has fully integrated all aspects of the automotive industry, thereby tremendously reducing its costs and significantly upgrading its quality.
Currently, BYD Auto has established large-scale industrial bases in several locations in China, as its R&D and vehicle manufacturing operations have rapidly developed. Within only five years of its founding, BYD Auto has successfully unveiled a series of new models, including the F0, F3, F3R, F3DM, F6, F6DM, F8 and e6.
Over the next few years, BYD Auto will continue to expand its product portfolio to include a broad range of F-series sedans and hatchbacks, S-series crossover vehicles and M-series multipurpose vehicles. Its hallmarks will remain cutting-edge "green" technology, safety, reliability, quality and affordable prices.
Besides the development and production of traditional gasoline vehicles, BYD Auto will continue to develop and promote new-energy vehicles, including its Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicles and pure-electric vehicles.
Warren Buffett's recent investment in BYD Company has definitely boosted our confidence in bringing new-energy vehicles into the North American market. BYD President Wang Chuanfu has said the investment will enhance BYD's brand recognition in the United States, and will speed up the company's pace in entering the auto market there.
BYD, leveraging its wide-ranging battery expertise, continues to expand development of Dual Mode (DM) electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles. It began building and selling the new F3DM in China on December 15, 2008. Looking to the future, BYD expects to introduce its DM series and EV models in Europe and Israel by 2010 and eventually in North America.
BYD, which made its debut at NAIAS 2008, is back for a return engagement at NAIAS 2009. Striving forward steadfastly along our bright route, BYD's philosophy remains: "All ways together"







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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
elprogramer 11:05AM (1/13/2009)
It *is* the basement.
Reply
Jay 12:01PM (1/13/2009)
Yeah agree, but with 168hp, 295lbft shouldnt it be able to hit 60 quicker than a 10.5s?
nads 12:21PM (1/13/2009)
"BYD says the car's Fe battery packs reach a 50% charge in just ten minutes, and a full charge can be obtained in just seven hours from a standard power outlet. Oddly, the very same press release notes that the Fe battery in the company's E6 crossover can be fully recharged in 60 minutes."
Well, the E6 is an all-electric that goes 249miles on a charge, according to the press release. This is a hybrid-electric that gets 60 mies to a charge. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the battery composition is different for the two cars.
nads 12:31PM (1/13/2009)
Also this article ignores that BYD intends to release the F3DM to the US by 2011. Corolla clone or no clone, it will sell if it passes US (safety) regulations. It sells in China for the US equivalent of $20K, so it will be interesting to see what they sell for here. If its around $20K and qualifies for those $7K credits this will sell out quick.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/12/27/chinas-byd-delays-european-and-us-sales-a-year-to-2011/
Also why are these articles ignored the claimed 249mile range of the E6? If thats true won't it blow all the competition out of the water?
Craig 1:41PM (1/13/2009)
Nads - then why would the bigger battery take less time to charge? It doesn't seem to make much sense to me either.
Craig 6:37PM (1/13/2009)
The e6s battery pack is prtobably a different configuration so it requires different charging characteristics.
tekd 2:44PM (1/14/2009)
@Jay
Well, it does go 60 miles on a charge with lithium and iron batteries so I can only imagine that the batteries weigh a truly obscene amount.
Victor 11:10AM (1/13/2009)
As much as a KIRF this Corolla clone is, it's actually selling as a production vehicle in China.
Reply
Sea Urchin 11:52AM (1/13/2009)
I propose we boycott all Chinese cars.
izorro 11:11AM (1/13/2009)
They should of made it look like the 1 series, not the Corolla...
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jeff 11:13AM (1/13/2009)
50% charge on a 62 mile total range would require a dedicated charging station for 10 minute charge time. 30 miles of driving needs on the order of a few kW-hours, and there are only so many kW's you can get out of a standard socket. (about 2kW, or 2kW-hours per hour). They must be talking about some kind of fast charging station, I wonder if that'll be available from them.
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Patate 11:14AM (1/13/2009)
Yesterday I saw the exterior and laughed. The interior is even worse, it really is a last-gen Corolla all-around. They should also copy the Brillance logo, it looks like a Toyota one.
Chinese companies are a joke, they shouldn't be allowed to have the right to sell cars here, even if they could meet safety requirements.
They're more than 1 billion and they can't figure out how to build a car by themselves. Even worse than that, they think we actually take them seriously? They should go back to build shoes and Wal-mart junk, we don't need this.
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hypermiler 11:33AM (1/13/2009)
Don't be sure, BMW and Daimler lost their piracy lawsuits against a Chinese clone maker IN EUROPE(Of course they already lost in China, that was given), so it's legal to sell BMW and Smart lookalikes in Europe as long as they are not exact and don't wear BMW and Smart badge.
There is no guarantee that the same thing won't happen. Chinese automakers are shameless and they don't understand that what they do is considered a shame in western countries.
Harv 3:33PM (1/13/2009)
You are obvious a very young person and don't remember there was a time Americans laughs at Toyota and Volkswagon the same way in the 1970's
If you are born in the late 70's/early 80's, you might remember Hyundae was more of a punch-line than anything else.
What happened to Toyota now?
I am not saying Chinese make good cars by a long shot... but it would be foolish to dismiss them completely.
Judy Zik 3:44PM (1/13/2009)
@ Hypermiler
Totally different legal systems. Americans and their courts are lawsuit happy and patent legislation and IP protections in the US are ridiculously overbearing. Even wacko patent lawsuits end in Million dollar payouts or more. No way the Chinese would get away with this in the US. I am suprised they are even being allowed to show this car in Detroit unchallenged. If it was cloned after a Mustang there would be an uproar. If the organizers of the Detroit Auto Show had any class they wouldn`t allow it on the floor.
big j 7:46PM (1/13/2009)
you guys all forget that if there were no market for these dirt cheap clones they would not produce them, but there is and I can GUARANTEE you the majority of that market is NOT Chinese.
and I'm not trying to divert blame or justify it, but seriously people need to come out of that tunnel vision.
so maybe then according to your logic customers of Chinese companies are a joke as well or at least these clones anyway eh?
kelly 8:00PM (1/14/2009)
The BYD F3DM, particularly the battery, is a break-through that GM can't match!
Please pay my part of the this(and the next, next,..) GM tax bailout. You sound like one of the 1970's wizards that said Honda was a bad car.
mclarensmps 11:16AM (1/13/2009)
More like the poor man's plug in Honda City...
http://addmorehp.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/honda_city_b273fp.jpg
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gslippy 10:08PM (1/13/2009)
Very nice car. Yet another reason why the Volt will never sell.
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Jake 11:20AM (1/13/2009)
I read in the WSJ yesterday about this. It is a deliberate and blatant rip-off of the Corolla. The owner himself said that he wanted to basically get started in the auto industry by copying a successful design, namely the Toyota Corolla. Toyota has not sued yet, but I wonder if they might sue if the BYD Corolla comes to the US market. I was always surprised that there was never a lawsuit over the Hyundai Accord.
In other news, electric service is extremely unreliable in China currently. Some manufacturing plants have to schedule days without electricity certain days a week as there is not enough capacity. So, it would seem that some serious power grid and generation upgrades are in order for this to become main-stream, in China anyhow.
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