Autoblog

REPORT: BYD pushes American EV launch ahead to 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:16:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, China, Crossover, Electric

BYD e6 electric MPV - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Warren Buffet-backed Chinese automaker BYD has moved up its schedule and plans to sell a fully electric car here in the United States next year. Interestingly, the automaker's original plans were to sell its first products here in the U.S. in 2010, but it then delayed that projection by a year. The new announcement puts BYD back on track for its original 2010 target -- perhaps not coincidentally in line with the launch of the new Nissan Leaf.

BYD's e6 five-seatcrossover is the first vehicle exected to hit the U.S. market, with a price of just over $40,000. Details on the car's launch are still slim at this point, but WSJ indicates it will be a limited to a few hundred vehicles in select markets. Expect the initial vehicles to go to "government agencies, utilities and maybe some celebrities," according to BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu.

Last we heard, the all-electric e6 was capable of accelerating to 100 km/h (62 mph) in ten seconds with a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). Perhaps more importantly, the car's range has been quoted at 300km (186 miles) on a full charge of its lithium ion battery pack.

Gallery: BYD e6 electric MPV

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

REPORT: BYD pushes American EV launch ahead to 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warren Buffett reportedly rakes in $1B profits on BYD in less than one year

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, China, Technology, Earnings/Financials, Celebrities, Electric

_{2009 BYD F3DM - Click above for high-res image gallery}

You don't get to hold the title of The Richest Person in the World - a title oft-owned by either Bill Gates or Warren Buffett at any given time - without knowing how to make sound financial decisions. While not all of Warren Buffett's investments end up raking in tons of money, his procurement of a ten-percent stake in Chinese automaker BYD less than one year ago has already earned his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. some $1 billion.

Driving the rapid rise in BYD's value are its investments in hybrid automobiles like the plug-in F3DM and, even more importantly, high-tech lithium iron phosphate batteries. A recent partnership with Volkswagen and possible tie-ups with Ford and others have proven the worth of that energy storage technology for automotive use and the company is already China's largest producer of rechargeable batteries for portable electronics.

BYD Chief Executive Officer Wang Chuanfu has publicly stated his company's plan to more than double global sales this year with new models and additional export deals, which could include the United States as early as 2011. With all of this in mind, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Buffett bolstered his investment Sunday night by acquiring an additional 225 million shares of BYD stock.

Gallery: 2009 BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid

[Source: Bloomberg]

Warren Buffett reportedly rakes in $1B profits on BYD in less than one year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: BYD e6 - world's first production dual-mode plug-in hybrid crossover

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, China, Green, Crossover

Click above for high-res gallery of the BYD e6 crossover

The "BYD" in BYD Autos stands for Build Your Dreams, and this Chinese company is dreaming ~~big~~ huge. BYD is bent on becoming the world's largest automaker, and in order to achieve that goal, it's launched a series of ambitious projects that it hopes will reach the streets before larger, well-established carmakers. At the Detroit Auto Show, BYD stepped onto center stage with plenty of interesting product, including the world's first dual-mode plug-in hybrid. The F3DM was released in BYD's home market earlier this month, and in Detroit it debuted the world's first production plug-in hybrid crossover, the e6. Both vehicles could hit the American and European markets by 2011, but for the time being, they're only available in China.

As we told you last month, all of these impressive developments have been made possible with the help of a $230 million investment from Warren Buffet. The e6 features BYD's "Fe" battery which receive a 50% recharged in a claimed ten minutes. Granted, the remaining 50% requires another hour or so, but half a charge is good for about 125 miles, which should ease customers' range anxiety. The e6 has a simple but pleasant shape and adequate room inside, so if the price is right, it could attract a broad demographic of buyers -- and that's what BYD is counting on. Check the e6's press release is after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: BYD E6

Continue reading Detroit 2009: BYD e6 - world's first production dual-mode plug-in hybrid crossover

Detroit 2009: BYD e6 - world's first production dual-mode plug-in hybrid crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BYD plans two more electric cars in 2009

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, China, Green

BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is a Chinese company with huge ambition to become the world's largest automaker. If there's any chance of making that monumental task a reality, the company will need some amazing products, a stage to present them to the world and a little luck. At least one of those requirements has been met, as BYD is set to capitalize on Nissan's absence at the Detroit Auto Show in January by placing its products right on the main floor with all the rest of the major automakers. BYD's working on the product problem too, having just released its first plug-in hybrid, called the F3DM, in its home market ealier this month. If that weren't enough, the automaker reportedly plans to release two more all-electric models in 2009, with the goal of bring its products to the crucial American and European markets in 2011.

All of these impressive developments have been made possible with the help of a $230 million investment from Warren Buffet. Much like the upcoming Chevy Volt, the BYD F3DM and F6DM sedans and the E6 van rely on an electric motor and an on-board battery pack to provide motive force for the first 60 miles, after which a normal gasoline-powered engine kicks in to keep the party going. Needless to say, we'll keep an eye out for the budding Chinese automaker next month in Detroit.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: BYD's F6 DM plug-in hybrid

[Source: Gas2.0]

Report: BYD plans two more electric cars in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beijing '08 Preview: BYD e6 electrifies family hauling

Alex Nunez — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, China, Green, Misc. Auto Shows

When Auto China (a.k.a. the Beijing Motor Show) opens next week, BYD will pull the wraps off its e6, an EV crossover/MPV with a front end similar in appearance to the JDM Honda Odyssey. Unlike Honda's people-mover, the e6 runs exclusively on batteries. Its operating range is stated as being 300 km (186 miles) on a full charge. Said batteries, we're assuming they're lithium-ion (the translation from Autoblog Chinese is a little dodgy), can be charged via a 220V outlet. If a quick-charger is used (details of which are not yet available), 15 minutes gets the driver an 80% charge. A completely respectable zero-to-100 km/h (62 mpg) time of ten seconds is achievable, along with a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). The e6 battery pack lives under the rear seats, where BYD says provides they're well-protected in the event of a crash. BYD says that the e6 could go into production within two years. We'll look for more updates when the show gets underway.

[Sources: AutoblogGreen via Autoblog Chinese, Autoblog Spanish]

Beijing '08 Preview: BYD e6 electrifies family hauling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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