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China Upstart's Electric Car Plugs Into West

Battery expertise puts BYD 'at same starting line' with Detroit

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 12, 2009 3:09 PM CST

(Newser) – BYD, a Chinese company known mostly as a cell-phone battery manufacturer, plans to enter the Western auto market with an electric car that could short-circuit entries from Detroit’s Big Three and others, the Wall Street Journal reports. BYD hopes the relative engineering simplicity of an all-electric design will grant a leveled playing field against giants like General Motors and Toyota.

BYD’s model, called the F3DM, is powered entirely by battery and can be charged with a wall outlet. BYD’s ample supply of cheap labor and research will enable it to price the car at around $22,000—almost half of what GM will ask for its electric Volt. Concerns remain, however, regarding battery safety.

Under the hood of a BYD e6 at the North American International Auto Show today in Detroit.
Under the hood of a BYD e6 at the North American International Auto Show today in Detroit.   (AP Photo)
Wang Chuanfu-fu, chairman and president of BYD Company, left, poses next to BYD's e6 at the North American International Auto Show today in Detroit.
Wang Chuanfu-fu, chairman and president of BYD Company, left, poses next to BYD's e6 at the North American International Auto Show today in Detroit.   (AP Photo)
Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD Company, poses next to BYD e6 at the North American International Auto Show today in Detroit.
Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD Company, poses next to BYD e6 at the North American International Auto Show today in Detroit.   (AP Photo)
BYD Auto chairman Chuangfu Wang, right, introduces F6DM with Tony Manpelly, a member of the board of directors, at the North American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 in Detroit.
BYD Auto chairman Chuangfu Wang, right, introduces F6DM with Tony Manpelly, a member of the board of directors, at the North American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 in Detroit.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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