Chinese Hybrids

It is my personal belief that Chinese cars will be coming to Europe in the next couple of years. Although their first attempts to enter the European market were not successful (remember the Landwind) they will return and strike hard at the weakened Western automobile industry. As an example consider the cars presented at the Guangzhou International Motor Show. First of all there is the Brilliance BS6 Hybrid. This car is equipped with nickel-hydrogen batteries and an electric motor and reduces fuel consumption by 35%. It will come to the market in 2009 or 2010. Secondly, and already available across China in the coming days, is the BYD F3DM (the Chinese only need to reconsider their naming). This Hybrid plug-in car can reach 160 km/h and can drive 100 km in electric mode, which is a considerable distance. When attached to a rapid recharge station it can regain 50% of its electric capacity in 10 minutes, when plugged in at home it takes 9 hours, i.e. overnight. I definitely wouldn’t mind having that car in Europe, and it doesn’t even look so bad! If you want to read more check out leblogauto (in French) or, if your Chinese is up to standards, the autohome site.