Chevy Volt Hybrid vs. BYD e6 Pure Electric

General Motors is claiming that the Chevrolet Volt hybrid vehicle can be expected to achieve 230 miles per gallon when used mostly in city traffic. The Volt is a hybrid vehicle that has a 40 mile range on electric power when the battery is fully charged along with a small internal combustion engine that acts as a range extender for the battery once the 40 mile electric only limit is reached.

It should also be noted that the Volt will consume approximately 25 kilowatt hours for every 100 miles. My local utility charges 12.76 cents per kilowatt hour which translates to $3.19 per 100 miles.

40 Mile vs. 249 Mile Electric-Only Range

While the claim of 230 miles per gallon seems impressive, BYD (BYDDF.PK) previously announced an electric-only vehicle that is reported to have an electric-only range far in excess of 40 miles. I wrote about the BYD e6 electric car in early May. The e6 has a 249 mile range on a full charge and can achieve a 50% charge in only ten minutes. The e6 consumes 29 kilowatt hours per 100 miles but appears to be a larger vehicle than the Volt.

From what we know of the Volt and the e6, GM and BYD have come up with very different approaches. The advantage of the Volt is that the internal combustion engine offers range extension without a recharge of the battery which is essential given the low 40 mile electric-only range of the Volt. The advantage of the e6 is a very long electric only range coupled with the ability to achieve a 50% recharge in only ten minutes. The disadvantage of the e6 is that drivers would be dependent on a recharge station once the 249 mile full charge range is exhausted.

Let the Market Decide…

It is surprising that very few comparisons have been made between these two very different approaches. With BYD planning to introduce their vehicles to the United States market within a couple of years, we will soon learn which approach consumers prefer. Hopefully competition will determine the outcome rather than government interference based on the Federal Government’s majority ownership of General Motors.

The following video is a brief account of GM’s announcement Tuesday regarding the Volt’s estimated fuel efficiency.

Disclosure: The author owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) which has an investment in BYD stock.

Comments

[kmi:]

From what I understand of the BYD product, their figures are heavily optimistic and performance non-existant; it shouldn't be considered a competitor as their product can't compete on any level in the international arena.

Apparently it isn't really selling even in China. Even with incentives.

It seems the value in the company is mostly a result of their battery oriented partnerships with larger international automakers rather than in the vehicles they are bringing to market.

I like it as an investment but I wouldn't bet on any BYD product one-upping the Volt or the new offerings coming out of Japan for that matter either (Nissan Leaf or Mitsu iMEV or something like that).

All-electrics will be falling on the market like an avalanche over the next couple of years, CODA has something already on the market in US I believe, and Henry Paulson and some other easily recognizable names are involved, Tesla is bringing it's Model S to market eventually... I doubt BYD will be competitive in that space.

Aug 12 07:15 AM

[Davewmart:]

Another contender is the Nissan Leaf all electric.
Unfortunately I am concerned that it used Lithium manganese batteries, which have a relatively limited lifetime:
www.greencarcongress.c...
'Based on AESC’s testing, the cells will retain more than 80% capacity after 7 years, including 70,000 km (43,496 miles).'
That works out to around 22cents/mile for the $10k battery alone, with an average daily mileage of just 16-17miles!
The Volt uses a similar chemistry, from LG, but the separator may be better and they are it running it to low levels to avoid giving the battery a hard time, so they oversized it.
They reckon they can get 150,000 miles out of it.
The BYD OTOH uses a lithium iron battery which is good for around 2,000 charges/discharges and so should give very reasonable lifespan.
For many countries all electric may be a better bet and avoid the complexities of hybrids, but American usage patterns would seem to favour hybrids, although for cost reasons perhaps with a more modest all-electric range than the Volt.
It seems weird that the US does not use liquefied natural gas cars as they have a lot of it.
Such vehicles can be easily obtained in Holland, I believe.

Aug 12 08:52 AM

[Zee4Money:]

Does anyone have any recommendations on information sources for BYD.? There is very little information available since they don't seem to report periodic financial reports. I would like to know if the recent surge in the stock price is strickly speculative or is there an earnings improvement that would account for some of the jump.

Aug 12 09:05 AM

[Road Runner:]

Nice breakdown of the numbers. Thanks.

Aug 12 11:00 AM

[Mad Hedge F...:]

sdfghn. GM says that its new Volt hybrid will get an unbelievable 230 miles per gallon for a 300 mile range when it is introduced at the end of 2010. Does this mean it only has a two gallon gas tank? The $40,000 car will use no gas at all for the first 40 miles a day, which covers two thirds of all American drivers. At three cents a mile, this will give the average driver of 15,000 miles a year a $450 annual fuel bill. By the time the car hits the market, seen by many as the troubled car maker’s lifeline to the future, the Prius will have been on the market for ten years and built up a major distribution and service network, not to mention immense customer loyalty. Toyota’s (TM) current $22,000 benchmark competitor gets 50 miles/gallon, giving you a $900 a year gas bill at current prices, and has a huge quality advantage. The problem for GM is that by the time the Volt comes out, Toyota will have brought its plug in version to the market, which will deliver the same performance at half the price. Nice idea, GM, but you’re 30 years too late.

Aug 12 11:38 AM

[Road Runner:]

I agree with Davewmart. Some markets/countries will prefer plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles and other markets/countries will prefer all-electric vehicles (of course plug-in).

In the US, our vehicles are our second homes. We are very demanding of our vehicles. Inconvenience is not an option. That is why I believe that plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles will be dominate vs. all-electric vehicles. We are willing, and have the money, to spend a little more for the added engine/generator. We will sacrifice a little mileage for the added weight of the engine. If, we forget to plug it in a night. No big deal. We’ll just have to burn some gas the next day as our “punishment”.

In China, and some other emerging markets, I see all-electric vehicles being dominate. Those people don’t have the expectations and demands for a vehicle like Americans. Just having a vehicle is often a luxury. Working around the charging issue is just part of ownership. They also have very little money so the lower price of an all-electric vs. a plug-in hybrid-electric is very appealing.

Note that the Chinese government is attempting to “leapfrog” the developed world by going straight to an “electric economy”. Delivering energy to a vehicle is 2 to 3 times (maybe more) more efficient than burning gasoline. Plus, it doesn’t create as much pollution as burning gasoline. Energy efficiency and pollution are very big issues in a country of 1.3 billion people.

This “leapfrogging” effort by the Chinese can be seen in their massive build out of the electric infrastructure. They are building large amounts of new electricity generation from hydro, solar, wind, and coal (at least its not gasoline). They are building many high voltage transmission lines. They are promoting electric cars. They are building more mass transit.

Aug 12 11:40 AM

[woodsey:]

Guys, when pondering all the ramifications of fuel and technology, etc. keep in mind this important fact:

For all its brilliance the human species has not developed an immunity to war.

Aug 12 04:42 PM

[tiggernlizzy:]

Go to BYD.comit and you can get all the info you want. thia guy needs to compare the Volt to BYDs hybrid F3dm dm standing for duel mode. It has the extended range and is around $22000 NOT $45000!


On Aug 12 09:05 AM Zee4Money wrote:

> Does anyone have any recommendations on information sources for BYD.?
> There is very little information available since they don't seem
> to report periodic financial reports. I would like to know if the
> recent surge in the stock price is strickly speculative or is there
> an earnings improvement that would account for some of the jump.

Aug 12 10:27 PM

[tiggernlizzy:]

Go to bydit.com to get all the info you need about the company. It is going to be the next GM . Only bigger.

Aug 12 11:06 PM

[tiggernlizzy:]

You obviously don't know squat about BYD. Their financials are available on their websit BYDIT.COM with a host of other info. Why do these reporters always compare apples to oranges? If your going to compare the Volt A "Hybrid " to one of BYDs cars compare it to the F3DM another hybrid . Only even when the gas engine kicks in after 62 miles of pure electric mode it runs a generator to recharge the batteries and run the vehicles electric motors. You have unlimited range same as any other plug in electric hybrid. Oh ya I forgot , Nobady else currently has a plug in electric hybrid ! Not to mention $22000 opposed to $40000 Plus for the Volt
They are currently building electric storage plants using their batteries to store solar and wind energy. Also they are building 2 facilities in the US to do the same thing.


On Aug 12 07:15 AM kmi wrote:

> From what I understand of the BYD product, their figures are heavily
> optimistic and performance non-existant; it shouldn't be considered
> a competitor as their product can't compete on any level in the international
> arena.
>
> Apparently it isn't really selling even in China. Even with incentives.
>
>
> It seems the value in the company is mostly a result of their battery
> oriented partnerships with larger international automakers rather
> than in the vehicles they are bringing to market.
>
> I like it as an investment but I wouldn't bet on any BYD product
> one-upping the Volt or the new offerings coming out of Japan for
> that matter either (Nissan Leaf or Mitsu iMEV or something like that).
>
>
> All-electrics will be falling on the market like an avalanche over
> the next couple of years, CODA has something already on the market
> in US I believe, and Henry Paulson and some other easily recognizable
> names are involved, Tesla is bringing it's Model S to market eventually...
> I doubt BYD will be competitive in that space.

Aug 12 11:41 PM

[topshelf:]

How about doing some simple re-Searching, instead of "from what I understand" ? You should know that the F3DM wasn't, still isn't, available to the Public. All sales went to government agencies and Fleet owners.

BYD has an F3 <<< gas only


F3 is the most popular BYD model and has been China's fourth-best selling car in the first half of the year.

Jun. 24, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Chinese automaker BYD Auto sold 144,741 vehicles in the first five months of this year, with F3 leading all BYD models in sales to 96,181 in January to May.

The automaker said that it plans to sell 400,000 vehicles in the full year of 2009. As an effort to fulfill the goal, it will later launch five new models including M6, S8, G3, L3 and S6.

BYD Auto is a subsidiary of BYD, which produces 65 percent of the world's nickel-cadmium batteries and 30 percent of the world's lithium-ion mobile phone batteries. BYD purchased Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile Co. in 2003 and started its auto business.
======================...

Jun. 17, 2009 (China Knowledge) - BYD Co<1211>, which is China's largest rechargeable battery maker and a famous automobile producer, plans to sell its F3DM plug-in hybrid compact sedan to individual customers this September, sources reported.

The automaker's F3DM car was released for sale to government agencies and corporations on Dec. 15, 2008.

BYD Auto Co Ltd, a subsidiary of BYD, has already launched a nationwide campaign to market its F3DM sedan in China. The company also aims to sell the sedan in Europe next year and in the U.S. the year after that.

The BYD F3DM vehicle is the world's first new-energy car model that can be charged using a household power outlet. The car can be recharged to 50% in 10 minutes at BYD's charging station and can be recharged to 100% in nine hours by a household power outlet.

In April, sales of F3DM jumped 143% year on year to hit a monthly record of 22,721 units.
======================...
I hope anyone reading articles on this site does Not rely on the info. Needless to say, though I will, you should take some time and do some simple researching---Especially if you're going to post on a topic.

On Aug 12 07:15 AM kmi wrote:

> From what I understand of the BYD product, their figures are heavily
> optimistic and performance non-existant; it shouldn't be considered
> a competitor as their product can't compete on any level in the international
> arena.
>
> Apparently it isn't really selling even in China. Even with incentives.
>
>
> It seems the value in the company is mostly a result of their battery
> oriented partnerships with larger international automakers rather
> than in the vehicles they are bringing to market.
>
> I like it as an investment but I wouldn't bet on any BYD product
> one-upping the Volt or the new offerings coming out of Japan for
> that matter either (Nissan Leaf or Mitsu iMEV or something like that).
>
>
> All-electrics will be falling on the market like an avalanche over
> the next couple of years, CODA has something already on the market
> in US I believe, and Henry Paulson and some other easily recognizable
> names are involved, Tesla is bringing it's Model S to market eventually...
> I doubt BYD will be competitive in that space.

Aug 13 10:35 AM