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<\/a><\/p>\nWang Chuanfu was a government scientist when he borrowed the equivalent of $300,000 fifteen years ago to make batteries for mobile phones, in Shenzhen in Southern China, just north of Hong Kong. He had a staff of 20 employees.<\/p>\n
The company flourished so much so that it expanded into making automotive batteries ten years ago. Yet again, it flourished, and in 2003 it started to make complete motor vehicles. By 2009 it was producing nearly half a million vehicles a year, (to put this into perspective, that would account for nearly half of all motor cars sold in Australia last year).<\/p>\n
Just two years ago it launched the first petrol\/ battery powered hybrid car in China. It was a huge success and BYD now employs over 200,000 workers.<\/p>\n
<\/a>BYD Hybrid Car<\/p><\/div>\n
So when the Chairman talks it\u2019s worth listening to.<\/p>\n
Interviewed by Peter Day, Wang Chuanfu says that BYD will be the largest car manufacturer in China by 2015 and the largest in the world by 2025. Big claims, but can he back it up?<\/p>\n
On the basis of their current speed of growth you have to take them seriously, but even more so when you see their current product range. China has no petrol reserves, so the country is totally dependent on foreign oil \u2013 a position that they find uncomfortable. They need to limit their dependence on foreign oil, and are thus very keen to help with the development of battery powered vehicles. In fact the cost in the showroom of a BYD F3 ( the battery\/petrol hybrid) is nearly 50% less than its full retail price due to the subsidies received from both the national and local governments. It retails for less than $14,000. Such assistance from the Government has naturally led BYD to concentrate on its development of the electric vehicle, and they are making amazing progress. <\/p>\n
Currently there are virtually no fully electric passenger cars on the market in Australia, the exception being the Mitsubishi i Miev (leased out to some government agencies). Its range is 150km before a full overnight recharge.<\/p>\n
BYD has already produced a taxi that is fully operational in its home city with a range of 300km between full recharges, and 200km before a part charge that takes less than an hour!<\/p>\n