The Chinese BYD F3DM, First Mass Produced Electric Car, Fails with Consumers
There is a lot of talk within the Electric Vehicle community about the Chevy Volt, but sometimes the headlines can overpower news of other EVs, like the BYD F3DM.
The BYD F3DM is one such case. Made and sold in China, it’s been called a Volt copycat, but it doesn’t seem to have the same following as its American counterpart.
News has recently come out that the BYD makes its own proprietary LiFePO4 battery and can sell the car for a US equivalent of $22,000. Warren Buffett has invested in the company and the potential exists to eventually sell the car in the US.
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With a reported 60 miles of range and a dual hybrid drivetrain capable of operating either in serial or parallel mode after the battery is discharged, it seems as if it would give the Volt a run for it’s money, but that’s just the problem.
Reportedly since launch in December 2008 only 80 F3DMs have been sold, and 20 of those to the Chinese government. Why is this, you ask?
With a pricetag of $21,980 USD, it’s too expensive for most Chinese. The company has a stated goal of bringing this closer to $15,000 when they scale up production, but if no one is buying now, how will they scale up production?
Other road-blocks include a lack of charging stations, government incentives, and a poor auto market. In addition, the 60 mile range that I mentioned above, is only accurate if it is driven under 50 km/h (31 mph).
I’m sure that Chevy and the Volt team are keeping a close eye on BYD and it’s F3DM. They certainly should be. After all, you can make the best car in the world, but without the right price point and infrastructure to back it up, you won’t see the demand for it.
Adam Shake is a guest writer for Gas2.org and founder of Twilight Earth.com. He works in Washington DC and is an environmental writer, advocate and activist.
Source: GM-Volt
Photo courtesy MarkinDetroit via Flickr Creative Commons Lisence
Wow, Adam, after all this time you still haven’t learned how to spell ‘its.’ Work on those apostrophes, guy. Otherwise this was an interesting article.
Odd question, I wonder how a license plate name works for marketing?
Again, more sloppy reporting from Gas2.0
The car is called the F3DM for the F3 body type that it is based on and DM for dual mode - hybrid…
and
@Arron
FWIW, BYD = Build Your Dreams… A curious English name from a Chinese company.
Certainly this car would sell fabulously well in this country. China is not so concerned about oil depdendencies, and the price of gas has nosedived
recently. Given those specifics, making any claims
about saleability is a useless endeavor. We know, for example, that over 4,000 Chevy Volts have been
virtually presold via the gm-volt.com website, and that car will cost roughly twice a much and get 50% less driving range from its batteries.
The main reason for low sales might have to do more with apprehension to the technology than “ppor auto market” or being “too expensive”. China’s auto market is currently on pace to surpass the US auto market this year. Secondly, China is a huge market for BMWs, Mercedes, etc. so price is not really the issue either. Lastly, how is this car a copycat of Volt when it has been in the market since December 2008? I don’t follow the logic of copying a car that’s is not expected to be out until 2011 at a $40,000 price tag.
What about the $8,800 rebate the Chinese govt. is giving out for such vehicles, bringing the price down to around $13k? Why wasn’t that point mentioned in the article?
What a ridiculous title this article has. How can you possibly declare a new car of any type a “failure” after such a short time on the market, let alone one with brand new technology. The reporters bias is so overt as to make one question why the editors let it pass.
In China like Japan traffic crawls along. Getting the high end on the miles per charge would be the usual situation. Compare that to an ordinary car in bumper to bumper traffic. Congested traffic locations are ideal for this sort of vehicle.
I’d also think China doesn’t want to be dependent on imported oil. The American example being obvious even to the blind.
greendoughnuts,
BYD is short for Bǐyàdí Qìchē and Build Your Dreams is only the English slogan for the company.
Personally, I think they will hit on something that works and sells. They are more motivated than any other car company out there and can count on battery sales to keep them afloat even when the car market tanks.
Now, Chrysler is diverted to building Lada’s and GM can’t get its “Vettes” off the lots. Cameros sit rusting in the car lot rain, and truck sales are gone. The volt is a sheet-metal “Blast from the Past - a 1969 Battery/Electric Chevelle! not a serious Eco- car at all! and GM is slated for bankruptcy. The Chinese “miracle” plug-in car, at under $30,000.00 is still a bargain! If the first 60 miles, or the first under 30 mph miles are electric, they win! More batteries can be added for sure, but the engineers don’t seem to think that for this car, obviously designed for American markets,are necessary. Next, they will retail it
’state-side with and eco-diesel clone engine from VW and kick every bodies ass in the market place - Can you imagine, getting 60 mpg + on Diesel, a free 60 mile electric ride, and a low, city-use, high torque top speed - every taxi company in the country would be lined up at the dealerships, much as they did for the Automatic VW Diesels in the 70’s in Canada! put 4 doors on the thing and good quality in the build - a 6 or 8 year design center, instead of Yankee Doodles 4 year B.S. and America is done - China will have our car market by the short fuzzies and will swing us around the bar-pole like a feather scarf! Next we will be driving Asian Hino diesel trucks and paying carbon taxes to keep them going, never mind burning inefficient gasoline! its out of the question due to our economy troubles, now with OPEC openly blackmailing the U.S. for $75.00 a bbl to start! Look up Bio-Diesel on the web - it is the best way we have out of this mess, that and battery assist on everything that moves in traffic, and inter-city high speed rail systems - we are off oil, economically now and forever more - put that in your tank and smoke it!
by the way, BYD has become Nr.1 domastic brand in Q1 with 185% growth than 08Q1, they might be able to achieve their first target much earlier than 2015