BYD F3 DM - China Innovates

BYD F3 DM

In addition to inaugurating a new battery technology, lithium iron phosphate, the BYD F3DM is the first plug-in hybrid sold.

A year ago, at the last Geneva Motor Show, many journalists were to smile on the stand of Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dream or "build your dream").
Before the vehicles presented, poorly made copies of Toyota Corolla, Camry and Aygo, or from old Mégane CC facies old Mercedes C-Class, we had the same reaction. However, in a corner, a prototype hybrid F3, so Corolla three volumes had attracted our attention. No technical information, no price or date of production: we must admit, we still hesitated between interest and fear that this is a shell designed to attract attention. But it was not just a show. On December 15, the BYD F3 DM for Dual Mode, began his marketing in China for the equivalent of € 16,000. Wang Chuanfu, chairman of brand advertising will build 500 per month in 2008, 2,000 per month in 2009, and aim the European market by 2010/2011.

Another surprise, the F3 DM does not just copy the existing Japanese hybrids. It innovates by its drivetrain - plus two electric motors gasoline - and especially thanks to its unique lithium-iron, it is the first plug-in hybrid sold, grilling courtesy of the new Toyota Prius (mid-2009) and Chevrolet Volt (early 2011), a power that has an engine providing power to prolong the battery life. If the surprise announcement from a Chinese manufacturer who started its automotive business in 2003, you should know that BYD is originally a manufacturer of batteries and batteries. Born in 1995 with only 30 engineers, BYD has become, since 2003, the second largest producer in the sector. Today, the company has 40,000 employees across the world, including over 500 engineers dedicated to the automobile. With its expertise in terms of electric accumulators, BYD provides the first automotive use of lithium-iron batteries, already seen in the application of small size and low power (eg models).

In reality, we must speak of lithium iron phosphate, as it replaces expensive and highly polluting metals, such as cobalt and cadmium used for the electrodes. The advantages of these batteries are multiple iron face the elements lithium-ion: elimination of the risk of fire and explosion, insensitivity to high temperature, long life more than 2000 cycles with less than 20% loss of capacity and, according to BYD, a much more competitive price. All these advantages have allowed the Chinese brand to imagine a string pulling and original a priori performance. The two electric motors with 67 hp and 34 hp are supported, if necessary, by a small thermal 1.0 three-cylinder delivering 67 hp and 90 Nm, can also cause the wheels. Overall, the performance F3 DM (160 km / h max and 10.5 s to reach 100 km / h) thus have 168 hp and 400 Nm to move its 1560 kg. In any electrical autonomy already reach 100 km, 430 km to climb with the current supplied by the heat. Another feature of the lithium iron phosphate battery, charging can be done at 50% in 10 minutes with a quick charger (100% in an hour). On a household outlet, recharging require eight hours. A technology that is burned to try.