BYD to offer 1000km EV driving range

CHINESE electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is reportedly set to launch its next generation Blade battery pack this August, the technology offering significant increases in driving range.

According to a report published by Fast Technology this week, BYD is working alongside subsidiary FinDreams to develop a battery pack it says is 25 per cent more efficient that its existing LFP technology, without adding significantly to the unit’s overall cost.

The new battery packs are reported to offer an energy density of 190Wh/kg – or 40Wh/kg more than is currently available.

The article further suggests that BYD may offer a smaller and lighter battery that offers comparable range to its existing models, or a similar sized battery pack with a driving range of up to 1000km.

At this stage, it is not known which BYD will be first to feature the Blade II battery pack.

BYD’s existing Blade battery technology is itself relatively new and offers what the manufacturer says are new levels of safety, durability, and performance, as well as increased battery space utilisation.

In most BYD models, the battery forms part of the vehicle chassis, reducing weight and benefiting packaging by as much as 50 per cent (claimed).

The Chinese manufacturer has pioneered battery technology for some 27 years and has sold over three million battery electric vehicles in that time.

It has exposed its Blade battery pack to nail penetration testing it says is considered the Mount Everest of battery testing, with results that produced no smoke or fire. The test is designed to replicate a serious traffic accident and resulted only in a 30- to 60 degree Celsius rise in battery pack surface temperature, says BYD.