The BYD F3DM is a production PHEV slated for sale in Dec 2008 in China and 2010 in Europe. BYD uses iron-phosphate-based lithium-ion batteries for the F3DM. The car will have a 68 miles operate under EV with an auxiliary engine to allow operation in the hybrid mode. The battery can be fully charged by 220v power within 8-9 hours. It would be sell for about RMB 150,000 (Exchange rate 1usd=6.8 rmb), much cheaper than PRIUS. PS: The company's parent is currently the world's largest producer of cellphone batteries.
Hi Hui! Not many of us in China here. If you know the cities where this car will be sold first please post them. Kunming is probably not on the list.
F3DM will firstly be launched in 14 major cities in China, i.e., Shenzhen, Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu, Changsha, Jinan, Tianjin and Wuhan. Yes, Kunming is not on the list.
F3DM or non-plugin F3 does not meet (or has not tested) in the US crash test protocol. We don't know if it is tested under all road condition (from Arizona to Alaska, etc...). We also don't know if it was tested for the durability. Toyota's mass production car has to go through all of above plus every little stone unturned.
