Car Reviews

BYD Auto nosed out ahead of General Motors (GM), Toyota and Nissan on Dec. 15 by debuting China’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid, the F3DM. Though it’s not much to look at and has a rather forgettable name, it’s an impressive step forward for hybrids, the auto industry and China.

The F3DM gets juiced from a normal electricity outlet and pushes up to 60 mph in a respectable 10 seconds, also runs up to 60 miles on electricity before gas power kicks in. It’s not a sports car, to say the least; the F3DM feels much more like the conservative Toyota Camry inside and out, and starts at $22,000. Also its near-silent engine adds to the impressive driving experience, heightening awareness of the wind and humming tires sounds.

Warren Buffet (MidAmerican Energy, controlled by Berkshire Hathaway) invested $231 million in BYD a short time ago to charge the electric car into the American market by 2010, clueing in analysts in China’s potential in developing environmentally-friendly cars.

However, what BYD faces in implementing the F3DM hybrid car is the weak infrastructure in China. Most people live in large apartment buildings where recharging plug-in stations are extremely scarce.