BYD F3DM and Zotye Electric cars to launch soon

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According to a recent list of new cars which are set to launch soon, it appears that there are five new energy vehicles ready to be launched in China very soon. Nanjing, JAC, and Jiangling are set to launch various electric and hybrid trucks for commercial use, but Zotye and BYD are readying their hybrid/electric offerings for launch.

BYD F3DM
The F3DM was initially only available to government buyers and company purchases, but the F3DM will soon be available to regular citizens very soon. The F3DM has the traditional styling of a regular car, measuring at (LxWxH) 4533mm x 1705 x 1520, and has a wheelbase of 2600mm. The F3DM will be powered by a 1.3l engine and also an electric motor which will work together to give the F3DM a top speed of 150kph. Prices are expected to be around 160,000rmb.

The government is allowing sales of this car to begin in 13 cities as an experiment to see if it is worthwhile rolling out electric charging stations across the country. The test cities are set to be Shanghai, Chongqing, Changchun, Dalian, Hangzhou, Jinan, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Hafei, Changsha, Kunming, Nanchang, Tianjin, Xi’an, Guangzhou etc, although it should be pointed out that not every city will be able to apply for subsidies for green car purchases.

BYD are pushing the car into taxi use, government use, and postal use as an experiment, but it will also be open to personal buyers who wish to use the car to save on gas and save the planet at the same time.

Zotye Pure Electric SUV

Zotye are jumping into the electric market with China’s (and possibly the worlds) first electric SUV. Exact production statistics of the car have yet to be officially released, but Zotye had an electric concept on show at the Shanghai Auto Show. That particular concept was boasting a price tag of around 110,000rmb when launched for the 4 seater mini SUV and will have a max power is 27Nm, and will reach a top speed of 110kph and is also able to travel for a distance of 300km before needing a recharge. Zotye are also working on a fast recharge system for home use, which should be able to recharge the cars batteries within the hour.

The demand for ‘green vehicles’ has increased due to very generous government subsidies that offer upto 50,000rmb ($7,300USD) for hybrid cars, 60,000rmb ($8,799USD)for pure electric cars, hydrogen cars up to 250,000rmb ($36,581USD). Subsidies for coaches and buses are much, much higher with hybrid buses of 10meters or longer having subsidies of 420,000rmb ($61,456USD) available, pure electric buses or coaches will receive subisidies of 500,000rmb ($73,162USD) and hydrogen coaches or buses are eligable for subsidies of 600,000rmb (87,795USD)