BYD accelerates tech and performance benchmarks
By almost any measure, BYD is a remarkable company. Founded in 1995, it began its operations in a warehouse in Shenzhen, just across the border from Hong Kong. BYD started assembling, then producing its own batteries for mobile phone manufacturers like Motorola and Nokia. In 2003, BYD pivoted to the automobile business by acquiring a Chinese car company, and in 2005, launched the BYD F3 compact sedan.
BYD’s headquarters is still in Shenzhen, and it has expanded to a sprawling complex of manufacturing and design facilities. Developing rapidly from its first cars, conventional sedans powered by internal-combustion engines (ICE), BYD has already halted ICE car production, opting for electrified vehicles: hybrids, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and pure EVs.
BYD has climbed to the top spot in New Energy Vehicles, by investing in its own technology. This includes the chips needed modern cars, designed and manufactured by subsidiary BYD Semiconductor. This is crucial for the company as it pursues technological advancement.
Mr. Liu Xiuelang, BYD Asia Pacific Auto Division General Manager, shared that the company sees two major stages in the next evolution of the motor vehicle: electrification, then intelligent development. BYD sees the first stage, comprising a safe battery system for customers, and assuring them of sufficient driving range, is already approaching its end. The second is to use cars as intelligent platforms, with advanced hardware and software to improve safety and provide autonomous driving capabilities. BYD’s stated goal is to help cool the earth by one degree Celsius, by making more efficient transport available to more people worldwide. This includes electric buses, trucks, and rail systems with lower carbon emissions.
BYD demonstrated one safety aspect of its battery system. The BYD Blade battery uses long, thin battery panels that are assembled to provide not only power for the vehicle but also act as an integral part of the chassis. In the famous “nail penetration” test, a steel spike is driven into a competing NCM battery, causing a huge fireball as the damage causes the battery to rapidly overheat. When the same is done to the BYD blade, there’s no visible reaction. There’s no smoke or fire, and the battery remains in a safely stable state. BYD says that the surface temperature only reached 30 to 60 degrees Celcius. The BYD blade reportedly an also withstand other extreme conditions, such as being crushed, bent, heated in an oven to 300 degrees C and overloaded by 260% without resulting in a fire or explosion. Mounted low in the car’s platform, the Blade battery assembly is integrated into the chassis, providing rigidity and a low center of gravity. This helps with the car’s ride comfort and handling.
In the Philippines, BYD has already captured a large share of the New-Energy Vehicles (hybrids, PHEVs and EVs), but the company considers the Philippines just in the start-up phase of vehicle electrification. In that sense, BYD has found its ideal partner in Ayala Corp.’s AC Mobility. Ayala’s expansive business scale, including real-estate development, will allow the roll out a network of charging stations that will help the wide acceptance of EVs.
According to Mr. Bob Palanca, BYD Managing Director, education is the key to encouraging customers to switch to PHEVs and EVs. While the charging infrastructure is still in its birth stages, Mr. Palanca said that the objective of AC Mobility, along with its partners, will be to allow a motorist to drive an EV from Pagudgod (which already has a DC charging station) to Mindanao with no range anxiety.
BYD allowed us to test and ride a variety of its vehicles, including two vehicles from its luxury Yangwang brand. The Yangwang U8 is a plug-in hybrid SUV with four electric motors, . Its claim to fame is that it can, in an emergency, float in water for up to 30 minutes. Its electric-motor driven wheels can even act as paddles, allowing the SUV to manuever while floating. The Yangwang U9 is the brand’s ultra-performance sports car. The U9 Extreme, with a pulse-pounding 3018ps on tap, just set a new production-car top-speed record of 496 kph. This one-ups BYD’s own EV speed record, which fell short of the all-around top-speed record, allowing it to claim top spot, no qualifications needed.
While it remains to be seen if the Yangwang U8 or U8L will be officially launched as a potential Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol-killer, BYD will have a few new cars potentially arriving in the Philippines soon. The eMax 9 DM-i MPV is a seven-seat MPV with luxury features, such as vented captain’s chairs and multiple screens all around the cabin. The Sealion 8 will be a seven-seat full-size SUV with a PHEV powertrain. More on these cars soon!
