Chinese Automaker BYD Unveils the World's First Mass-Produced Plug-In Hybrid

Chinese Automaker BYD Unveils the World's First Mass-Produced Plug-In Hybrid

Chinese automaker BYD Co. today unveiled the world's first mass-produced plug-in gas-electric hybrid, with domestic sales to begin this month --  at least a full year before rivals such as Toyota and General Motors bring electric-powered vehicles to market.

The F3DM, which was unveiled to reporters at BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen, can travel 62 miles using only batteries, BYD said in a statement. Though essentially an electric car, the F3DM also has a small gasoline engine that is used to generate electricity if the battery runs dry.

The company, which is China's largest battery maker, said the car will be priced at less than 150,000 yuan, or about $22,000. That's toward the low end of the price range for a typical midsize sedan in China.

The F3DM's batteries can be fully recharged from a regular household outlet in as little as seven hours and 50 percent powered via a quick charge at a specialist station in 10 minutes, BYD said. The car also has a gasoline engine as a backup power source.

BYD began marketing the F3DM to cab operators and other potential fleet customers earlier this month and plans to have the car in showrooms by the end of the year. The company, which expects to sell as many as 10,000 F3DMs in China next year, plans to bring the F3DM to the U.S. market as early as the second half of 2010.

Toyota intends to begin testing plug-ins late next year. GM expects to start selling the Chevrolet Volt plug-in in late 2010, but the company's financial struggles may delay the vehicle's launch.

BYD will initially target the F3DM at government agencies and corporate customers. The Shenzhen local government and China Construction Bank today signed deals to buy a total of 50 cars.

China's government has announced that it will support the electric vehicle push through research-and-development subsidies for automakers and tax breaks and other incentives for consumers, as well as with plans to build battery-charge stations and other public infrastructure. The government hasn't said how much it will spend.

Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. in September bought 9.9 percent of BYD for $232 million. BYD officials have said the stake sale may help the automaker boost its profile overseas and also reassure potential customers.

Some people question whether the leap to electric cars makes sense in China, in part because most of China's electricity comes from "dirty" coal-burning power plants. That said, BYD is working with MidAmerican to develop batteries that store power generated from wind and power sources. The products may be commercialized in one to two years.

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.