SteveInSeattle
Well-known member
In response to those who tout the great technological capabilities of the Chinese, certainly there is truth to their capability to build good products (as I type this on my Chinese iMac). Still, there is general consensus that the Chinese are a decade behind in auto technologies, much as Hyundai was as it came to the US market. It took Hyundai 25 years to catch up with Toyota in quality--and just now they are ready to market a Lexus competitor in the Equus. With the Chinese government's help, their companies will probably accomplish the same in much less time. But I stand by my assertion that the gen 1 BYD electrics can't be as reliable as Nissan's Leaf. Nissan has been experimenting with electric cars for almost 70 years, with their first Lithium battery car, the Prairie EV produced in 1992! All of the best engineers in China can't leap-frog a company with practical experience that quickly. Plus the BYD range comes with no magic, just more, and heavier batteries, batteries that are heavier than the chemistry used by Nissan.
The future of alternative energy cars, and of Chinese cars, and BYD are all very bright, but we won't see significant market penetration for ten to fifteen years. As the numbers grow the subsidies will be gone and contrary to some predictions Lithium batteries are not going to drop significantly in price-- the stuff is plentiful but in places that are difficult to mine.
The future of alternative energy cars, and of Chinese cars, and BYD are all very bright, but we won't see significant market penetration for ten to fifteen years. As the numbers grow the subsidies will be gone and contrary to some predictions Lithium batteries are not going to drop significantly in price-- the stuff is plentiful but in places that are difficult to mine.