The BYD (EV) Thread

BYD aims to replace Routemaster with 400-mile EV London bus

The BD11 has a battery capacity of 532kWh - the largest of any commercial EV currently available in the UK

The new BYD BD11 double-decker bus is tipped to replace London's Routemaster with a range of more than 400 miles and high levels of passenger comfort.

Launched today at the London Bus Museum, the Chinese firm's latest electric bus arrives 11 years after it first launched a bus in the UK and shortly after it delivered its 1800th bus here. Its fleet has now racked up more than 18 million miles in service.

The BD11 has a total battery capacity of 532kWh - the largest of any electric commercial vehicle currently available in the UK.

 
Woah, BYD claims it’s created a 1,300-mile plug-in hybrid set-up

The pioneer of plug-in hybrid technology takes hybrid range to another level

BYD has launched its fifth-gen dual-motor hybrid tech, and it reckons it can get an incredible 1,300-mile range (2,100km) out of a single tank in a plug-in hybrid car.

It'll only be available in two new models for the Chinese market - the Qin L DM-i and the Haibao 06 DM-i ('haibao' translating to ''seal') - though the technical architecture of the new hybrid engine hasn’t changed much. There's still a 1.5-litre engine coupled with either a 10.08kWh battery – good for 37 miles of pure electric range – or a 15.87kWh battery, achieving almost 56 miles petrol-free.

Instead, the gains are made from higher density batteries and better efficiency. For example, thermal efficiency is now 46.06 per cent, up from 43.04 per cent on the previous generation’s hybrid set-up, which the brand calls 'Super DM'. Better heat management means lower fuel consumption.

Now, fuel consumption stands at 2.9 litres per 62 miles (100km) rather than 3.8l/100km. Rather impressively, BYD tells us this almost doubles cruising range from 745 miles (1,200km) to 1,300 miles (2,100km).

 
BYD wants to sell 300,000+ cars a year in Europe and launch two premium brands... in two years

Chinese carmaker sets out its grand ambitions to sell big, and sell premium. But will it work?

Although it's common knowledge BYD is seriously big in China, few realise something similar is starting in Europe. Within just two years, BYD plans to sell similar numbers of cars across Europe to, say, Nissan. It's already building one factory in Hungary and has signed up for another in Turkey, to supply the continent by the end of 2026.

Sceptical of BYD's chances of actually hitting that 300,000-odd annual target, TopGear.com sat down to ask the obvious questions of Stella Li, global executive vice president and head of operations in the Americas and Europe.

How will they get so big so fast? "Build the brand. Be trusted. Don't act short-term and take solid steps," is her elevator pitch.

She cites as a brand-building exercise the huge pavillion at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where we were talking. There was the high-profile sponsorship of the soccer Euros. We gather that was got at a bargain fee because someone else pulled out. But even a bargain for an event like that is a big number. Li says once people are aware, they're more willing to try a car, and "60 per cent of people who try our cars buy one", she claims.

 
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