Innovation makes BYD an e-car leader

Shanghai, January 14 (Gasgoo.com) On January 12, Chinese automaker BYD Auto displayed its all-electric car e6 model at the Detroit Auto Show in the U.S. As the world's first five-seat electric vehicle that can run 400km (250 mile) at one charging, the BYD e6 electric car has drawn much attention from industry experts and the media alike, and also has brought great honor to China's auto industry.

An auto industry expert from the United Kingdom said to Xinhua reporters at the show that BYD's electric vehicle (EV) technology is a miracle of auto engineering and has overtaken the global auto giants such as General Motors and Toyota Motor, which are set to launch their electric cars in the near future. The words of praise mean that Chinese battery-maker and automaker BYD boasts the cutting-edge EV technology.

BYD has brought three new e-car models to the Detroit auto show, with the F3DM and F6DM being the dual-mode (FM) electric models. The three e-car models are powered by BYD's self-developed "iron battery" ("ferrous battery"), which is seen as the core technology featured in BYD's EV models. The BYD "iron battery" has proved to be safer, eco-friendly, long-lasting, recyclable and cost-effective.

The F3DM model was launched to the Chinese market in December 2008 as the world's first mass-production plug-in hybrid electric car in the dual mode. BYD will also launch its F6DM this year. These Chinese electric cars are expected to enter the U.S. and other global markets by 2011.

A top executive of BYD told reporters that energy resources and environmental protections have become two outstanding global issues, and most people expect that more and more energy-efficient, eco-friendly vehicles will enter the auto market. As a result, many automakers have plans to produce electric vehicles. Chinese and global auto companies have begun their research and development of electric cars and will launch their e-car models in the coming few years.

BYD started as a battery maker and has its unique advantage over other auto companies in developing electric vehicles because it has its proprietary core technology -- the battery for e-car use. The BYD executive noted that only with the innovative technology can the company blaze a trail and walk ahead of others in the EV field.

Generally, China's auto industry is still lagging far behind the United States, Europe and Japan. It is becoming more urgent for Chinese carmakers to catch up with and even overtake some global auto companies in the increasingly fierce competitive auto market. To survive the growing competition, Chinese automakers have no better alternatives but technological innovation.

Energy-efficiency and eco-friendliness will lead the new trend of the global auto industry. BYD Auto has set a shining example for other Chinese automakers to follow in their future operations. It is high time for China’s auto companies to get more innovative and competitive.