Chinese car maker BYD are using revolutionary battery technology in the BYD E6
Chinese car maker BYD unveiled their Electric saloon car – the E6 – at the recent Shanghai Motor Show, and to be honest we didn’t take that much notice. Just another Chinese car maker launch and nothing that would massively interest our readers. But we were wrong.
The biggest problem with electric cars (or one of them, at least) is that the battery technology is not really up to the ambitions of car makers. Chevrolet’s Volt (aka Opel Ampera) is a good case in point. Tellingly, a Toyota tecchy referred to the science behind the Chevvy Volt as ‘Vaporware’, and the whole project is founded on the expectation that the technolgy will develop quickly enough to make the car a reality.
But the Chinese have managed to push battery technology in a different direction. Most batteries currently use lithium ion which is both expensive, rare and not particularly green. BYD have developed battery technology that uses ferrous ion, which is both plentiful and cheap. They are claiming that their technology makes the BYD E6 capable of a 400km range on a full charge, and 200km on a 50%, 10 minute refresh.
The one problem is that it can’t recharge from a domestic socket, so BYD are working with the Chinese Government and fleet operators to install a network of recharging stations ahead of the E6 launch at the end of the year. Which is a mammoth task, and one that would be even greater in the UK where we are now incapable (thanks to successive Governments’ blinkered views on power stations) of producing enough electricity for our current needs, but it is achieveable. And a 10 minute wait for 200kms (around 120 miles) of ‘fuel’ is something most could tolerate at their local filling station.
If we’re going to go the Electric Car route this is very promising. The promise is underlined by an investment of over £150 million by Warren Buffet, the American investor, not normally noted for making bad investment decisions.
We’ve said it before. The Chinese are going to make all the running in the car industry in the coming years. And here’s proof.
Rick says
It looks like a Toyota Corolla Matrix. All Chinese can ever do is just copy. Wouldn’t be surprised if this thing falls apart, and all the driver has is a seat and a steering wheel in his hands.
jon says
Hi can any one tell weather the BYD E6 is avai8lable in this country (GB) if so how much? and were can i buy one.
CarsUK says
No, not yet. Although BYD have has said they expect to be in the UK by 2012.
Aisling says
The article above states that it cant be recharged at home, but I have just been looking at the website and it gives four ways, gas station, electric recharging, solar, and domestic plug……. as you can switch between ev and hev also .
mary zunkel says
investment opportunity available in chinese electric car BYD E6 ?
praveenyadav says
i can make totravel more distance for one recharge so contact me for more details 09940569232 iam studing automobile engineering in chennai contact me from 4pm to 6am
Albert K. I. says
country timezone pls
Sam says
The trick is to charge it off-peak. The utilities would love you to buy their product when they have plenty of capacity. In addition if you need a recharge during peak they just use battery swapping technology. In addition to tax they already tax petrol so it is the same. If we use more off-peak our electrical distribution network become more effieient and we can afford to spend more on renuable sources or even maybe a dirty power plant.
Simon says
I’m not sure electric cars can ever work. I we all had them we couldnt produce the electric we need and the givt. would tax us to death on that instead.