(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
When the electricity goes out in your house, you don’t usually look to your car for emergency backup, but two new cars from BYD provide just that.
Chinese battery maker and electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Company Ltd. has added two new pure-electric Sedans to its lineup of EVs, and both cars are equipped to serve as emergency power sources, or even just power for non-emergency setting such as trips or parties.
Currently marketed solely in China, the Qin EV300, will come in four versions with prices ranging from 259,800 to 309,800 Chinese Yuan; and the e5, coming in three versions with prices ranging from 229,800 to 249,800 Chinese Yuan.
According to the company, it based the recent rollouts on a thorough assessment of what EV potential users value the most, and after finding out that range anxiety is still a major factor in purchase decisions, it provided both models with a 300km driving range, although a potential customer, upon testing the Qin EV300, managed to drive 349.5 km on a single charge.
The Qin EV300 is equipped with BYD’s high-efficiency, high-speed permanent magnet synchronous motor, with a maximum power of 160kW and maximum torque of 310Nm, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, and features re-generative braking system. The model also features BYD’s signature Insta-Pure Technology, a function that purifies the air in the interior of the vehicle by quickly lowering PM2.5 values.
Emergency Power Supply
Both the Qin EV300 and the e5 are equipped with another of BYD’s signature features: the VtoL function, in which the vehicle serves as a massive mobile electricity supply to power appliances like cookers, refrigerators, power tools and many others, so that users can rely on the vehicle to plan outdoor activities that depend on electricity, or in case of emergencies like power cuts or blackouts.
While BYD has yet to market its cars in the U.S., preferring to focus more on its pure-electric buses in the territory, it has moved into the number one spot worldwide for electric vehicle sales.
BYD and Berkshire Hathaway
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.
For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.
© 2016 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.