The technology will appear first in two sedan models, each priced under 100,000 yuan ($19,013). These vehicles can travel distances equivalent to Singapore to Bangkok, New York to Miami, or Munich to Madrid with just one charge and a full tank of fuel.
BYD's fifth generation hybrid system is based on a 1.5 liter plug-in hybrid gasoline engine. This can deliver a maximum power of 100 hp and 126 Nm or torque. Thanks to technological improvements, the engine now has a thermal efficiency of 46.06%, which BYD says is the most efficient in the world.
The system uses BYD's Blade battery with either 10.08 or 15.87 kWh. As for the electric motor element of the system, it uses either an EHS120 electric motor with a maximum power of 120 kW and torque of 210 Nm or the EHS160 motor with a maximum power of 160 kW and torque of 260 Nm. Also used as part of the system is a 12V lithium iron phosphate battery that has the same life as the vehicle and is lead-free.
In terms of market impact, BYD’s aggressive pricing strategy seems to weigh on its profitability but significantly boosts its sales figures. Last year the company sold three million cars and nearly one million by April this year alone. With these numbers, BYD now commands 50% of China’s hybrid vehicle market.
Globally, automakers are focused on mitigating consumer concerns about vehicle range. Toyota recently showcased prototypes fitted with a new generation internal combustion engine that uses multiple fuels including hydrogen alongside batteries.
Looking ahead, BYD plans to introduce their groundbreaking plug-in hybrid internationally after initial sales in China.
Source: Carnewschina
