Friday, January 29, 2010

BYD's e6 to be released May 2010


Register Hardware reports: [edited]

The electric e6 MPV manufactured by Chinese firm BYD and partly funded by American billionaire Warren Buffet will launch in China this May and be initially targeted at government buyers and taxi fleets. It will cost 300,000 yuan (£27,000).

Provided the e6 passes North American safety tests, the car should arrive there by late 2010 priced at roughly $40,000 (£24,600). It’s unclear at this stage if the e6’s US price will include the $7500 (£4600) Federal e-car rebate.

The e6’s drive comes from two electric motors: one driving the front wheels and rated at 215bhp (160kW), with the other driving the rear rated at 53.5bhp (40kW).

The e6 can cover 0-62mph in under 14 seconds and reach 90mph. Front-wheel drive will be used for everyday driving conditions, with the rear motor only coming into play when things get sticky or slippery, BYD said.

BYD reckons the e6's battery can be charged to 50 per cent capacity in 10 minutes and to full capacity within one hour, when connected into a three-phase charger.

In an effort to overcome range anxiety, BYD has fitted the e6 with a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate battery of its own making. The pack should give the e6 a range of 205 miles (300km), BYD added.
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2 comments:

Brook Jordan said...

Where can you charge this, besides at home?

Brett Jordan said...

that's a good question... and one that is dividing the electric car community... watch out for a forthcoming blog that provides a radically different solution to the 'overnight charging' scenario

 
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