Detroit 2008: China’s BYD Shows F6DM Electric-Hybrid Sedan

BYD, one of the five Chinese companies that made it to Detroit this year, showed off four models at its stand including the F6 large sedan with BYD’s DM (dual mode) electric hybrid system, a technology that the company claims will revolutionise alternative powertrain systems. “We believe DM technology will replace current hybrid technology,” said BYD vice-president Micheal Austin. “It will change the world as we know it today.”

According to the Chinese carmaker, the F6DM has a range of around 60 miles (96 km) in electric mode and a further 190 miles (305 km) when using the gasoline engine as a generator to charge the battery pack. BYD said the battery can be recharged to 50% of capacity in just 10 minutes, though a full recharge takes approximately 9 hours. While the F6DM will go on sale in China later this year, with a $6,000 price premium over the standard F6, it shouldn’t be expected in the US before 2010 at the earliest.