Comments on: BYD Speeds Up U.S. Launch, Race for 2010 Electric Car Heats Up

By: 9 Plug-in Cars Hitting the Road in 2010

9 Plug-in Cars Hitting the Road in 2010 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:01:50 +0000

[...] Late 2010 [...]

By: Warren Buffett Gives Little-Known Chinese Clothier A Global Boost « ChinaLuxCultureBiz

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:36:14 +0000

[...] has elevated what was only a few years ago a fledgling battery maker into a brand which is set to enter the US market as early as next year. So for little-known (even in China) Chinese menswear designer Trands, Buffett’s endorsement [...]

By: Bo

Bo — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:24:24 +0000

“Every EV/PHEV will be using Lithium-Ion batteries…” WRONG! Where did you get that info? Not from the Big Three, I hope; or else they are even more behind the curve than I thought. BYD uses proprietary Lithium-Ferrous batteries which according to the company, will be much cheaper to manufacture, have more charging cycles, chemically stable, much less toxic, and recyclable. I usually don’t trust tall claims from the Chinese, but I figure I could trust Warren Buffet’s research, seeing that he plunked down a billion bucks to invest in BYD. So David, do some research BEFORE you speak.
Here is more for you to worry about: the BYD F3DM, a plug-in hybrid that has been in MASS PRODUCTION (unlike a certain GM car) since earlier this year, will also debut in North America by 2010.
BYD F3DM: 68.4 miles (all electric) + gasoline engine for range extension, $16k, Made in China. By the way, for 4k more, you get leather seats, ABS, alloy wheels, etc.
Chevy Volt: hopefully 40 miles (all electric) + gasoline engine for range extension, $40k (that’s $24k more than the BYD F3DM), Made in USA (a country where people who know the least are allowed to talk the most). By the way, Volt’s batteries will be provided by the South Koreans, because GM has spent zilch on new battery research.
I think I will go for the BYD F3DM over the Volt and pocket the 24k to pay off my student loans.
So let’s give credit where credit is due: the Chinese have the best hybrid electric car technology on the market today, which is no small achievement and certainly much more than what the Big Three have managed so far. If things go well for the Chinese, they might just beat the Big Three senseless (Deja vu, anyone?); but of course, the Japanese had their fill first, beating the Big Three half dead, only to pass them onto the Chinese to be finished off. Toast to the new American Century of automobiles, and let’s hope the Stink Three, ah, Big Three limp it to the quarter-century mark. I am not keeping my hopes up.

By: China Beachhead: BYD’s Electric Car and The Clean-Energy Future - Environmental Capital - WSJ

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:57:58 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:16:27 +0000

The more the better, I don't know about the USA but TATA (India) want to release a bigger version of the Nano here in Europe and have it as a EV. Considering that the Nano was sold for about $2000 in India for the basic ICE then I expect a Nano EV should come in at less than $20k here in Europe.

By: David

David — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:00:24 +0000

Every EV/PHEV will be using Lithium-Ion batteries, which cost approximately the same $/kWh for automotive-grade batteries. Unless the BYD sedan is cost cut in other areas, they won't be able to sell the vehicle for just above $40,000

The closest competitor to the BYD sedan is the Coda sedan. They are both being produced in China and are the same class size, yet the coda only has a 100 mile range using the same Lithium-Ion chemistry. There is no free lunch when it comes to designing cars, and the only way the BYD sedan could be achieving the mileage figures it states, is under perfectly ideal conditions.

Expect the BYD sedan to have closer to a 100 mile range and $45,000 price tag when it enters the market in 2010.

BYD: 249 miles, $41,000 (estimated), China Tesla Roadster: 244 miles, $101,500, USA Coda Range: 100 miles, $45,000, China Leaf Range: 100 miles, $30,000 (estimated), researching Volt Range: 40 miles, $40,000 (estimated), USA