BYD is expected to launch its next-gen Blade EV battery later this year. The battery will promote more range at an even lower cost. Will the new battery be BYD’s X-factor in its “liberation battle” over gas-powered vehicles? FinDreams, BYD’s battery unit, launched the first-generation Blade battery in 2020, revolutionizing the industry. BYD’s Blade batteries power Tesla, Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, and other popular electric vehicles from major automakers. The batteries are a major reason behind BYD’s success. The batteries are installed in most BYD models, such as the low-cost Seagull, Dolphin electric hatch, and Atto 3 SUV.
By using lithium-iron-phosphate as the cathode material, BYD can make the batteries much cheaper. Not only that, but they also offer competitive power density compared to NCM batteries. With a “Blade-like” design, the battery is built for maximum safety while offering “ultra-long range and ultra-long lifespan.” The longer, flatter design saves space and weight for better efficiency.
BYD is set to change the game again with its next-generation Blade EV battery. BYD’s CEO, Wang Chuanfu, said the new battery will be even smaller and lighter with the same endurance during a recent financial meeting, according to a report by Fast Technology.
BYD’s leader added that it will also reduce power consumption per 100 km, which will likely promote more range and performance. The company’s latest Blade batteries have an energy density of up to 150Wh/kg. BYD’s next-gen EV battery is expected to reach upwards of 190Wh/kg. This could enable fully electric models to exceed 621 miles (1,000 km) CLTC range, which would be the highest among LFP batteries. The report claims BYD will release the new battery as soon as August 2024.
Electrek’s Take (EV technology fan site)
After declaring a “liberation battle” on gas-powered cars earlier this year, BYD has launched a series of lower-priced EVs, undercutting rivals. BYD’s cheapest EV, the new Seagull, starts at just $9,700 (69,800 yuan). And it’s already creating a stir among legacy automakers. Ford’s CEO Jim Farley called the low-cost EV “pretty damn good,” as he warned rivals.
BYD claims new energy vehicles have entered “the knockout round” over gas-powered cars with superior tech and comparable prices. The comments come with its next-gen DM-i (PHEV) system due out soon, which is expected to enable nearly 1,200 miles (2,000 km) CLTC range. With new EVs rolling out in China, BYD sees joint venture brands’ market share falling from around 40% to 10% over the next three to five years. The leading Chinese EV maker is also quickly expanding overseas, with plans to sell one million vehicles overseas in 2025, up from 240,000 last year.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/08/byd-launch-next-gen-ev-battery-more-range-lower-price/
Comment: BYD (Build Your Dream) is the Chinese government’s favorite auto maker judging by the investment of $3.7 billion to win the global EV race. China and BYD intends to dominate the domestic market and give other automakers a serious run for the money internationally. This advance in battery technology could do that. The EV industry needs a serious advance in battery technology if it ever intends to go mainstream.
I don’t know how good these BYD EVs are. They might be the EV version of the Yugo or the Geo Metro. Besides being far too expensive, as are new ICE cars, the range and recharging times give me pause. Although given my driving habits, overnight charging form a home 240 volt level 2 charger is all I’ll ever need.
What I truly don’t like about these EVs is the reliance on a large centrally mounted touch screen to control most functions. Talk about distracted driving. I’m content with tactile buttons mostly mounted on the steering wheel and a small, through the wheel screen for needed information. Hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
TTG
I did not think EVs would fare well in the cold but I have a buddy who lives in North Bay and he loves his Tesla. Just loves it. Says it does fine in the cold.
The recent round of EV trash talk could be real, or it could be an attempt to undermine China’s growing domination of the market. – This leaves a huge hole in the US economy – particularly in what is left of the Rust Belt.
Yes, Biden did that too with all his ludicrous “green” demands. Last laugh will be on China, since Climate Change™ is a hoax.
I’m considering a hybrid rather something 100% electric.
Talking about distracted driving. My son just bought a new car. Damned thing has a heads-up display on the windshield. Not sure I could ever get used to that.
I had a Volvo XC-90 that had a heads-up display. I ended up getting used to it. Volvos are vice vehicles. The one I had had all of the bells and whistles and was only $70k. Not bad when you look at what luxury vehicles are going for.
BYO Seagull seems like a good city car – $11,500 and 250 miles range, no fancy screens, pretty good engineering and design. Here’s a review by a Detroit guy that works in related industry (cost reduction for carmakers):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izvdO-zdlKg
BYD is going to crush what is left of the UAW once the left lets them be imported into the US. There’s zero reason to have an ev as a primary driver. They are status items for most or heavily subsidized (to include charging at work).
Hybrids: I had a 2010 Ford Fusion (only car I ever bought new) back when Obama first had gas @ $4/gallon. I averaged 43mpg in the summer and 39 in the winter (same commute, 80% highway @70 +/-). Put 210,000 miles on it before I sold it five years later. Decent car for what it was, same system as the then Prius. No major issues other than clipping off a mirror in the own garage. (Don’t look at the first tulip of the spring as a drive in ‘case surprise(!) they were none folding mirrors. The $300 to replace it folded up real nice in the body shop owner’s wallet.)
Fred –
Ford stopped making the Fusion. But I’ll check out the Maverick, their hybrid mini-pickup.
Leith,
I haven’t driven one yet but they are popular and the people I know who own them love them.
Fred,
My whole life I have been reading in the right wing economist that free trade is good and tariffs are bad. It’s interesting that the right and left have now switched positions on the virtues of free trade.
James,
Free trade has never been “free”. Think tradeoffs instead.
As someone who has worked in the industry across different markets, there are a few things here. US market is very unique with regards to vehicle size and mileage and it only accounts for ~15% of the world market. World markets are dominated by much smaller vehicles and shorter driving distances. Most of the world’s vehicles, including most of the US ones, are in warm or temperate climate belts, so cold temperatures are not an issue.
Chinese have such a massive advantage here, US and European automakers have largely insulated themselves from the broader world market. They all but stopped technical innovation, they shed all the accumulated technical expertise and have been reduced to vehicle assemblers rather than manufacturers. One thing US automakers are is a powerful political lobby that will do their best to protect their legacy (gasoline) business and slow down EV adoption.
My view is that EV’s will take over the world market in the next 10 years. We are starting to see results of massive investments in battery research over the last couple of decades and this will just accelerate. China and other Asian countries are making vehicles able to easily swap batteries, which is much easier and faster than building charging stations and charging vehicles like Tesla does, for example. Better batteries will just accelerate this trend.
US may be the last country to see these benefits as consumers here prefer large vehicles that are less efficient, more expensive and require larger batteries that are harder to swap. Reliance on private investment and lack of regulation will leave US with inferior infrastructure and a patchwork of charging standards that will stunt adoption rates. US couldn’t even mandate cellphone charging standards, what chance does it have of doing it for electric vehicles.
I drove the Tesla Y model for awhile when I was in England last. I liked it. Had everything you could want. The issue was with lagging infrastructure in England. Where I live in NOVA there are superchargers in almost every parking lot. England, the rural areas were sparse, usually not superchargers and often broken when you got there.
The one bug I found out first hand on the Tesla…..you are not supposed to be able to lock your card in the card. They operate using a card and not a key or a fob. Problem is, place the key next to your phone and it doesnt work properly. I locked both my card and my phone in the Tesla because of this. Thanks to the help of the English police I was able to finally get someone out there to get the card for me. But I wasted the better part of a day doing it.
Extended range would help a lot. Even filled 100% the range on the Y was only around 320 miles. Not good for a road trip.
My next car will probably be a hybrid, but I am glad to see improvements with EVs. Since I don’t pay for electricity due to solar panels, an EV would do just fine. Since there seems to be a lot of development in this area, it may be better to lease a vehicle, rather watch yours quickly become obsolete.
Lars,
You mean you didn’t pay for the solar panels either? I wonder how much that subsidy cost tax payers. Do they work well at night, and during the last couple of hurricanes?
The solar panels were installed 6 years ago and quite a bit of the cost was covered by insurance since we lost the roofing in a hurricane. We did get a tax credits too, but given the size of the federal budget, it was minuscule for the tax payers. Our investment has since been covered by not paying for electricity, at about $250;- a month. At night, we use the credits we get during the day and living in the Sunshine State helps. During any hurricane, we will use the generator, but as soon as the sun comes out again, we start to produce more electricity from the panels.
Lars,
“miniscule for taxpayers” is nice sophistry when you compare the price not to a roof but the 4 Trillion dollar 2018 federal budget. ie. you mean all the other insurance buyers paid for your ‘investment’ and the other rate payers pay for you power. Just like the Obama cash for clunkers or the ev credits that made Elon such a rich man.
you mean all the other insurance buyers paid for your ‘investment’
Grumpy old man, are you sure you want to force insurance into standard frame? Really? The good God-fearing, hard-working, Deplorables versus the party of the moochers.
force insurance into your standard frame?
Should pay more attention when I change something.