BYD Putting Stronger Emphasis On Pure EVs, Transitioning From PHEV Focus

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As a sign of its general and ongoing transition to a focus on all-electric vehicles rather than on plug-in hybrids, it appears that BYD will be releasing an all-electric version of the popular Song SUV but perhaps not a plug-in hybrid version as previously planned.

BYD Song

As it stands, the BYD Song EV (100% electric) is slated to be released later this year, following an official unveiling in September at the Chengdu Auto Show, but the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the all-wheel-drive (AWD) SUV now appears to be in limbo. The BYD Song EV SUV is expected to possess a single-charge range of around 270 kilometers.

As well as the Song EV, BYD is expected to be releasing another all-electric SUV model this year — the Yuan EV — which is expected to possess a single-charge range of 250 kilometers.

Two electric SUVs in one year? A general transition away from PHEVs? What are the reasons?

Push EVs comments on that in its coverage, stating that, “in my opinion prioritizing BEVs over PHEVs is a good strategy. It’s a lot simpler to build cars with a single drivetrain than hybrids that have two. The production lines will be simpler, faster and more efficient. Less complex machines and workers are also required to mount a single drivetrain.”

A good point. If the technology is now there for compelling all-electric vehicles, then why bother with PHEVs?

The strategy seems likely to bear nice fruit over the coming years, as the EV market in China really seems to be picking up rapidly. Nearly 34,000 plug-ins were sold in China during July, up 188% compared to July 2015 — with a growing portion of sales in the market being all-electric cars. Of all the EV markets in the world, China’s seems perhaps the most likely to hit boom times within the near future. Rapid growth seems likely in the US, and elsewhere, as compelling products begin to hit the market, but none of these other markets seem as primed (extreme air pollution, very strong incentives, etc.) as China now is. And BYD is far and away leading the market so far.


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James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

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