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Warren Buffet's BYD EVs launch 2012

[Satman3]

Warren Buffet's BYD will be launching their cars within a year in China, USA, and other global markets:


BYD was slow to roll out its Electric Cars in China and in U.S. - company was hit with lawsuits in China and sales at the low end of expectations for its conventional vehicles. Now these cars are coming to U.S. and we guess that they have already passed strict U.S. safety regulations. It could be a tipping point for this automaker. Even if they will not take North American market by storm the huge Chinese market will be BYD playground.
Company is backed by Warren Buffett and they have moved last year to secure Lithium supply for the company.
"Now Chinese BYD backed by Warren Buffett moves to secure supply of Lithium. It looks like every major lithium end user would like to participate in Lithium mining company to ensure supply of this strategic commodity. As you can guess, there is not so many Lithium developers left to chose from."


Chinese BYD backed by Warren Buffett moves to secure supply of Lithium. It looks like every major lithium end user would like to participate in Lithium mining company to ensure supply of this strategic commodity. As you can guess, there is not so many Lithium developers left to chose from.


Here's confirmation that Talison will benefit from the Lithium demand from the EV/plugin world based on models to be released in next 18 mths from www.plugincars.com:

Meet the Fleet
Cars that are available now (or will be soon) are at the top of the list.
Concept cars (not yet scheduled for production) are at the bottom.
Click a vehicle name or photo for news, discussions, and galleries for that car.

40 miles electric + gas
$41,000
Now
Chevy Volt
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
GM calls the Volt its “most important project"
Only vehicle to use unique "extended range electric car" architecture
Limited availability in California, Michigan and DC, through 2011
Research, get news, and discuss
The Chevy Volt's technology has leapfrogged standard hybrids like the Toyota Prius. This well-equipped, five-door, four-seat hatchback operates as an electric car for its first 40 miles after a full charge and then uses gas to extend its range. It burns no gasoline during the first 40 miles after a charge, drawing energy from a lithium ion battery pack. When the battery is depleted, a 1.4-liter engine kicks in to power a generator that sustains the battery charge enough to give the car another 260 miles of range.
160 discussions·35 photos·14 fans

100 miles
$32,800
Now
Nissan LEAF
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
Most affordable mass-produced electric sedan (in forseeable future)
Home-based full charge around 8 hours
Connectivity to global data center for on-board station finding (and entertainment)
Research, get news, and discuss
Nissan is calling its new electric car—the Nissan LEAF —the "world's first affordable, zero-emission car." And with a post-federal incentive price of about $25,000—plus local and state incentives that could reduce it even further—the small EV is priced to sell. The LEAF is a well-equipped, all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and can travel about 100 miles on a single charge.
137 discussions·80 photos·23 fans

200 miles
$109,000
Now
Tesla Roadster
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
Fostered the EV renaissance
Screaming fast, nearly silent, and sporty as hell
First step for Tesla's efforts to make electric cars cool
Research, get news, and discuss
The Tesla Roadster will turn any driver into an electric car acolyte. The two-seat, soft-top sports car can do 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. The Roadster’s audacious acceleration comes from a 185-kilowatt electric motor powered by a 53-kilowatt-hour battery pack made up of 6,871 individual cells.
34 discussions·16 photos·8 fans

100 miles
TBD
2011
BMW ActiveE
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
Test program to lease electric version of BMW 1-series sedan
Four-seat, three-door hatchback—similar in size to a Honda Fit
Part of BMW’s larger MegaCity electric car program
Research, get news, and discuss
Beginning in 2011, a few hundred drivers will lease BMW’s the all-electric four-passenger ActiveE—essentially an electric-drive version of the BMW 1-series. The BMW ActiveE will allow the company to further refine the requirements for a line of large-volume future electric cars.
16 discussions·49 photos·1 fan

200 miles
$35,000
2011
BYD e6
Electric Vehicle · Wagon/Van
Pure electric five-seat wagon with 200 miles of range
Great at car shows, but production at any real scale is questionable
Research, get news, and discuss
According to the manufacturer, the BYD e6 can accelerate from zero to 60 in 14 seconds, has a top speed of 100 mph, and a range of 250 miles on a single charge. As a wagon, it could be among the most practical of EV offerings. But product delays, unproven vehicle quality, and tough economics raise doubts on BYD's ability to deliver.
15 discussions·9 photos· 0 fans

120 miles
$44,900
2011
Coda Electric Sedan
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
Conservatively styled four-door, five-passenger sedan
Zero-to-60 time of 8.5 seconds
Serviced at Firestone locations; similar to Apple's "Genius Bar" approach
Research, get news, and discuss
Southern California automaker Coda Automotive announced plans to bring a new electric car to the US from China in 2010. The Coda Electric sedan is based on an existing gas-powered four-door car, known as the Hafei Saibao 3, built in Harbin, China. Re-engineered with a lithium ion battery, the Coda sedan promises a driving range of 120 miles. The scrappy California company may be the first start-up to offer a practical and affordable electric car to mainstream buyers.
21 discussions·19 photos· 0 fans

50 miles + gas
$96,000
2011
Fisker Karma
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
Four-seat 400-horsepower combines with two electric motors and a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine
Sleek design from superstar auto designer
Company has not yet granted test drives
Research, get news, and discuss
Despite missing a series self-imposed deadlines, Fisker Automotive continues to repeat its commitment to bring the $96,000 400-horsepower four-seat plug-in hybrid to market in early 2011. That would make it the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid.
18 discussions·20 photos· 0 fans

100 miles
$30,000
2011
Ford Focus Electric
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
Ford's first passenger electric car
Full recharge between 3 and 4 hours on 240V Level 2 charging station
Liquid cooled and heated batteries for durability and cold weather performance
Research, get news, and discuss
The all-electric version of the popular Ford Focus is set to be launched in 19 markets in late 2011. The 100 mile range, five door hatchback provides many features that make it an enticing EV package, including higher speed charging, highly customizable displays, and liquid cooled/heated batteries.
24 discussions·28 photos·9 fans

80 miles
$57,400
2011
Ford Transit Connect Electric
Electric Vehicle · Wagon/Van
The only all-electric small truck for delivery businesses
Ford Transit Connect platform won 2010 Truck of the Year award
Azure Dynamics Corporation provided 55-kilowatt electric drivetrain
Research, get news, and discuss
The Ford Transit Connect Electric combines car-like driving dynamics, generous cargo capacity, and marketing opportunities for small businesses to emblazon the large exterior panels with green slogans such as “Zero-Emissions” and “100 percent electric.” The vehicle has a 75 mile per hour top speed and can drive up to 80 miles on a charge—matching the needs of a local delivery cycle.
11 discussions·11 photos·3 fans

100 miles
TBD
2011
Mini E
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
Pilot program includes 500 vehicles
Great Mini styling with all-electric drivetrain
Just seats two; battery takes up back seat
Research, get news, and discuss
Approximately 500 of the Mini E cars were produced—and beginning in June 2009 leased to municipalities and individuals in Southern California, New York, and New Jersey. The long-term prospects of a mass-produced Mini E are uncertain, but that’s not the point of the project. BMW’s main goal was to learn about the driving and charging experiences of real-world drivers—and to use that info for creating a small all-electric car by 2013.
15 discussions·32 photos·1 fan

75 miles
TBD
2011
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
Small and zippy, but overall underpowered
Sold in Japan and promised in US, but that's not certain
No pricing info yet, but sells in Japan in excess of $40,000
Research, get news, and discuss
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV (pronounced eye-meev) is one of the front-runners in the race for a mass-market EV. It claims a max speed of 80 mph and a range of about 75 miles. But the i-MiEV's small size and modest electric drivetrain will keep it off some shopper's list.
35 discussions·48 photos·6 fans

60 miles + gas
$28,800
2012
BYD F3DM
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
DM stands for dual mode; works alternately like a Prius or a Volt
Big promises, but very few vehicles delivered
Specs don't realistically add up
Research, get news, and discuss
China’s BYD Auto has shown production versions of its F3DM plug-in hybrid at major global auto shows—but has not been able to deliver on its big promises. If it can turn things around, with help from Warren Buffet's big investment, it would deliver a very affordable sedan with 60 miles of electric range—and 300 miles more of Prius-like driving.
11 discussions·10 photos· 0 fans

30 miles + gas
TBD
2012
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid · SUV
The only plug-in hybrid SUV with set production date: 2012
Built on proven Escape Hybrid platform
More than 100 Escape plug-ins currently under testing
Research, get news, and discuss
Ford is claiming that the Ford Escape Plug-in hybrid, a fully capable small SUV, can travel 30 to 35 miles using little or no gas—if driven in town and if the batteries are charged for six to eight hours using common household current. After those 30 or so miles, the vehicle reverts to acting like a conventional Escape Hybrid—which happens to be the most fuel-efficient SUV currently on American roads.
8 discussions·8 photos·2 fans

75 miles
TBD
2012
Honda Fit EV
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
Honda has loads of experience building electric drive vehicles
Honda Fit is a winning design for a small EV
Range numbers and top speed consistent with other small electric cars
Research, get news, and discuss
Using the popular small-but-spacious format of the Honda Fit, the company will offer a fully capable five-passenger electric car by 2012. Honda is not new to electric cars, having produced a limited run of the Honda EV Plus in the late 1990s, as well as the current Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric car. The Honda Fit EV promises 70 to 100 miles of range, and a top speed of 90 miles per hour.
8 discussions·13 photos· 0 fans

70 miles
TBD
2012
Smart ED
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
On the road in limited numbers in Germany
30 kW electric motor powers the rear wheels
Prototype system for communicating with multiple electric grids
Research, get news, and discuss
The Smart ED is the electric version of the Smart ForTwo—with a top speed of 60 miles per hour—is unlikely to shake the car’s bad rap for being underpowered. Worse yet, the lack of size, range and oomph feeds into the perception of electric cars as glorified golf carts. Smart has not committed to bringing the Smart ED to the United States.
17 discussions·10 photos·1 fan

150 miles
$57,400
2012
Tesla Model S
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
Striking Maserati looks
Huge battery for long driving range
17-inch touch screen to manage controls
Research, get news, and discuss
Tesla's striking follow-up to the Roadster is more practical and affordable. The Tesla Model S is a bright vision of what a practical and desirable all-electric sedan could be. Tesla set a big goal for itself to deliver on all that it has promised.
23 discussions·11 photos·7 fans

120 miles
$34,000
2012
Think City
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
Small two-seat car with plastic body
Price and dealership network is still in development
Company has still not proven itself as mass producer
Research, get news, and discuss
Rescued from the brink of bankruptcy, Think emerged in late 2009 with a vehicle, a battery pack, and a manufacturing facility. With that in place, the company moved production of the plastic-bodied two-seat micro-car, capable of about 120 miles of range, to a manufacturing facility in Finland. The company is aiming for annual production of 5,000 units of The Think City —but faces tough competition from major automakers now producing electric cars.
19 discussions·21 photos·1 fan

13 miles + gas
TBD
2012
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
Best suited to drivers with short commutes
Will boost Prius average mileage from 50 to about 75 mpg
Toyota still shows reluctance about lithium batteries and plug-in technology
Research, get news, and discuss
Unlike Bob Dylan’s fans who sobbed and booed when he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, Toyota’s hybrid followers are cheering the company’s intention to produce the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which could boost mileage on a Prius from 50 miles per gallon to the equivalent of 75 or so.
21 discussions·18 photos·1 fan

TBD
TBD
2012
Toyota RAV4 EV (New)
Electric Vehicle · SUV
A reincarnation of the original RAV4 EV from the California mandate days
Toyota and Tesla's first cooperative endeavor to bring an EV to market
Could be built at Tesla's new factory in California
Research, get news, and discuss
After reaching an agreement with Tesla, Toyota has once again embraced the concept of a small battery-powered SUV. Given the success of the beloved original RAV4 EV, the reincarnation of this vehicle with Tesla underpinnings will have big shoes to fill. Is the "Toyesla" alliance up to the challenge?
7 discussions·11 photos· 0 fans

30 miles + gas
TBD
2012
Volvo V70 Plug-in Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid · Wagon/Van
Demo project but Volvo looks serious, especially in Europe
30 miles all-electric range for now, but will probably be lower to reduce cost
Company focusing on safety for EV batteries
Research, get news, and discuss
The Volvo V70 plug-in hybrid demonstration car uses a 11.3 kWh battery pack, to deliver 30 miles of EV range. That could be pricey, but Volvo will work to reduce cost by sizing the battery to meet, but not exceed, consumer needs. The battery pack is combined with a front-wheel drive diesel engine with a rear-wheel drive electric motor. Despite not having a conventional hybrid on the market, the company appears to be very serious about electric-drive technology.
5 discussions·8 photos·1 fan

30 miles + gas
$100,000
2013
BMW Vision
Plug-in Hybrid · Coupe
Very expensive, limited-production plug-in hybrid
350+ horsepower and 4.8-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration
Better aerodynamics than a Prius
Research, get news, and discuss
“It’s the sports car of the future, the way BMW imagines it.” That’s how Adrian van Hooydonk, director of BMW’s group design, described the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics” two-door four-seat vehicle. BMW’s overarching goal was to combine breath-taking speed and groundbreaking efficiency. The company is promising a run of 5,000 to 10,000 units of The BMW Vision by 2013.
10 discussions·29 photos·2 fans

80 miles
TBD
2013
Volkswagen E-Up!
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
Electric version of VW's small concept car
Up! series also includes hybrids and diesels
Tiny platform could be up-sized for US market
Research, get news, and discuss
The Volkswagen e-up is a 10.5 foot minicar that seats four—three in front and one in back. Top speed is less than 85 miles per hour, with a 0-60 mph pace of about 11 seconds. The e-up! weighs about 2,400 pounds—with more than 500 pounds coming from the 18 kWh battery pack that can deliver about 80 miles of range from a single charge.
13 discussions·13 photos· 0 fans

95 miles
TBD
2014
Volkswagen E-Golf
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
Electric version of VW's popular Golf
Will be VW's second electric car
Includes advanced features to maximize use of regenerative braking
Research, get news, and discuss
The Volkswagen E-Golf—officially called the Golf blue-e-motion—will be VW's second electric car entry to hit the market in 2014 after the E-Up!kicks off VW's EV future the year before. By placing an electric drivetrain into one of the most popular small cars in the world, VW hopes to convince the car-buying public that EVs have attained much more than niche status.
5 discussions·19 photos· 0 fans

100 miles
$27,000
Concept
Aptera 2e
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
Devoted fans love the radical innovation
Company teetering on bankruptcy
Not entirely practical
Research, get news, and discuss
Winner of the funkiest EV design award, the Aptera 2e (formerly Type-1), looks like a cross between a motorcycle and ultralight single-occupant airplane. Built near San Diego, the Aptera 2e is competing in the Automotive X Prize competition. Thousands of potential buyers paid a $500 refundable deposit in anticipation of production scheduled for late 2008, and then delayed a few more times. Only time will tell if the company can deliver to its loyal fans.
9 discussions·18 photos·2 fans

30 miles + gas
TBD
Concept
Audi A1 E-Tron
Plug-in Hybrid · Coupe
Sporty subcompact body
Plug-in hybrid with very small gas engine
Research, get news, and discuss
The A1 e-tron is a small plug-in hybrid. The subcompact's 12-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery is matched up with a front-mounted 102-horsepower electric motor and an efficient lightweight 252cc Wankel rotary engine. After 30 miles of all-electric driving, the gas engine allows for an additional 125 miles, according to Audi. The car is probably targeted to crowded urban centers in Europe.
11 discussions·10 photos· 0 fans

30 miles + gas
TBD
Concept
Mitsubishi PX-MiEV
Plug-in Hybrid · SUV
Fully capable SUV that could break 100 mpg
James Bond high-tech features
Still just a concept
Research, get news, and discuss
The Mitsubishi PX-MiEV, a mid-sized SUV plug-in hybrid, initially debuted at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The vehicle’s lithium ion battery pack stores enough energy to provide about 30 miles of all-electric driving. When the batteries are depleted, a 1.6-liter 114-horsepower four-cylinder engine kicks on to either charge the battery or provide power to the wheels.
4 discussions·6 photos·2 fans

18 miles + gas
$90,000
Concept
Vision S500
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
Plug-in builds on Mercedes conventional hybrid technology
Mercedes ride quality and luxury features
Still in concept phase
Research, get news, and discuss
The Vision S500 Plug-in Hybrid can drive for about 18 miles solely on electricity. In the new European test cycle, that would produce a rating of about 75 mpg or 74 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Think of the possibility of a 70+ mpg S-Class sedan with all the comfort, safety and luxury of a top-of-the-line Mercedes.
1 discussion·8 photos· 0 fans

90 miles
TBD
Concept
Volvo C30 Electric
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
High-quality Volvo C30 platform
Crash testing ad nauseum
Volvo is serious about plug-in technology, but hasn't set firm production dates
Research, get news, and discuss
The stats for the Volvo C30 Electric sedan may seem unimpressive: a range of about 90 miles, acceleration from 0-60 mph in 11 seconds, a top speed of about 80 miles per hour, and a leisurely eight hours to recharge the 24 kilowatt-hour battery pack from 220-volt household outlet. But when it comes to performance and safety, Volvo is testing its plug-in prototypes perhaps harder and longer than anybody in the industry, before committing to producing their electric models.
7 discussions·9 photos· 0 fans

100 miles
Discntd.
Toyota RAV4 EV