Guide to Buying EV
The Han EV, China's First Electric Car
The Han EV, China's First Electric Car
A decade ago, BYD was a fringe player in the auto industry.byd china electric car It had already made rechargeable batteries for cell phones and other electronics, and figured that electric cars would be the next big thing. So it began to develop its own electric-car platform and wooed investors like Warren Buffett. BYD started exhibiting at Western auto shows around the 2008 financial crisis, but its early efforts looked pretty bad. It even pulled a few laughable stunts, such as its chairman driving around Cobo Hall in a BYD F3 DM prototype.
The company has since caught up with -- or maybe even surpassed -- some of the world's top car makers, mainly through its advanced battery technology.byd china electric car It makes and supplies the majority of the world's rechargeable batteries, including those in cell phones and laptops. BYD has also branched out into solar energy, as well as high-tech electronics and consumer goods.
Currently, the company has a wide array of production vehicles, including sedans, hatchbacks, crossover SUVs and MPVs, as well as single- and double-deck buses, long-distance coaches, vans, class 5, 8, and specialty trucks.byd china electric car The Dynasty Series is the brand's flagship line, and the Han EV (or PHEV in some markets) represents its effort to compete in the global luxury market. Named after China's Han dynasty, which ruled from 206 BCE to 220 CE, the model is available in both electric-only and hybrid forms.
Its pure-EV version is able to travel for 605 kilometers (376 miles) on a single charge, according to NEDC testing. Its four-wheel-drive, high-performance variant can go from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds, making it one of the world's fastest sedans. The PHEV can run for about 400 kilometers (249 miles) on electricity before running out of power, and it can switch to an all-electric mode that offers up to 550km (340 miles).
But there are plenty of challenges for Chinese EV makers that want to expand abroad. Many countries have skepticism about EVs, while Washington and Beijing are feuding over security, technology, and human rights.
But BYD is working hard to overcome these hurdles, and it has been successful in a few key markets. It's the leading EV seller in Thailand, for example, where high fuel costs and government subsidies have fueled growth. It's also invested in factories and lithium processing facilities overseas, as well as a fleet of cargo ships to ship its cars worldwide. BYD says it's on track to export 500,000 vehicles this year. That's still a fraction of the 1 million cars that will be produced by global car companies, but it's an impressive start.
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