While some automobile analysts seriously doubt the claims that Chinese automaker BYD can really succeed in their optimistic plans to market their attractive E6 electric sedan in the U.S. in the near future, the Chinese company claims that it will be selling the cars here within a year's time. One believer in the company is Warren Buffet, who has reportedly invested a cool $230 million in the Chinese company's stock.
While the new Chinese entry doesn't have to meet with tough U.S. air pollution standards because it's an all electric powered, crash testing the vehicle presents another hurdle. The Chinese car will likely conduct it's own crash testing and then submit the data to the federal regulators who will later conduct their own crash tests before final U.S. approval is given. And there's always the problem of no existing dealer network to even sell the new car.
And while the automaker claims a range on the order of 230 miles between charges, some auto industry experts also question that claim as well. Another serious problem is the pricing. Right now the vehicle costs around $40,000 per unit to produce. It would take more mass production, as well as cheaper materials and lower cost technology to bring that price down much. However, there is some speculation that the Chinese may dump this car on the market for less than cost for a time to get a toe-hold in the U.S. market. But how long can any company operate at a loss before they drain their assets out(e.g., GM & Chrysler)?
The E6 might just be a lot of wishful thinking. However, the car certainly looked attractive enough during it's public introduction at the recent Detroit Auto Show this year. While many companies such as Chrysler offered much scaled back exhibits, some new upstart brands such as the BYD E6 were seen for the first time. But will they be seen on U.S. streets as well?
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Comments (3)
"...their attractive... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Clancy | January 15, 2010 3:55 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"...their attractive E6 electric sedan ..."
Really? It's no pontiac aztec, but attractive? Really?
Then again you probably think the prius is 'attractive' too...
1. Posted by Clancy | January 15, 2010 3:55 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 15, 2010 15:55
2. Posted by Rodney | January 15, 2010 4:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It is still not a family car. Until alternative vehicles are designed for a family of four plus groceries they will not be successful.
2. Posted by Rodney | January 15, 2010 4:10 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 15, 2010 16:10
3. Posted by Marc | January 16, 2010 5:13 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
BYD is China's largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries and the world's second-largest producer of cell phone batteries.
The key to its cars is its lithium iron phosphate battery - or "ferrous oxide" - which BYD has called "inherently safe" because it is more chemically stable than the conventional lithium-ion battery.
Being "inherently safe" is debatable, what isn't is the use of lithium in any form on a large scale.
The object, at least one of them, is to ween the world off of oil, but lithium is not only a non renewable resource but the world's largest deposits are in locations that may not be amenable to providing large amounts of it, or at prices that make them not viable economically.
Western China and Tibet have very large deposits and obama's "book buddy" hugo chavez aims to make his country the largest supplier of lithium.
Bolivia has the world's largest reserves of lithium it's president is Juan Evo Morales who is widely quoted as saying "The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."
Morales has referred to the U.S.-driven Free Trade Area of the Americas as "an agreement to legalize the colonization of the Americas" and has supported the stated desire of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to form an "Axis of Good" between Bolivia, Cuba, and Venezuela, in contrast to the "Axis of Evil" comprising the United States and its allies.
How much lithium do you think we will get from him and at what price?
And then there is the "little" matter of electric cars are not pollution free. You plug in that battery to recharge it and BINGO electricity usage goes up as does coal fired electric plants, the very same coal fired plants that obama wants to cripple and drive out of business.
3. Posted by Marc | January 16, 2010 5:13 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 16, 2010 17:13