F3DM: The Second, Smaller, Plug-in Hybrid by China's BYD

While china is fast becoming the biggest threat to the environment, their ability to "copy" technology and mass produce it cheaply could be what ultimately saves us, they are already copying solar panels and ev motors....

Our environment has always been a lame excuse for our governments to make us feel guilty, raising taxes in the process.
Hybrids and electric cars have been around for about 100 years, but development has been undermined for numerous times.
As well oil companies as governments make big money from fuel.
Even wars have been started over oil.

But there's no way to stop the Chinese. There to big for any government to take on.
I can't wait for these cars to show up and force other manufacturers to build competitive vehicles.

Most people drive a lot less than 100 miles per day, as noted, but what a lot of people/writers/green advocates seem to be missing is that many many people also drive to weekend getaways and vacation spots -- and the range of any practical vehicle needs to be easily extendible (with a gas tank, for example) to cover much greater distances than 100 miles. For a significant part of the US, 100 miles doesn't even get you to a shopping center or airport (one way).

@Avid Reader of all things green

"For a significant part of the US, 100 miles doesn't even get you to a shopping center or airport (one way)."
Maybe area-wise, but I really think that the vast majority of the population lives a lot closer to shopping centers and airports than you might think. Also, aren't people who go to faraway vacation spots and getaways weekly more likely to be part of the upper or upper-middle class?

With the current supply of electricity in the US being mainly coal, will cause electric cars to produce more CO2 emission than today’s gasoline or diesel cars. Until coal power plants are eliminated electric cars are not the answer to our emission problems they will only make the problem worse. With today’s current electricity power supply there is no such thing as a low emission electric car, unless you charge the batteries yourself with a clean power source such as solar or wind.

"With the current supply of electricity in the US being mainly coal, will cause electric cars to produce more CO2 emission than today’s gasoline or diesel cars."

James, are you really just an auto industry stooge?
PEVs produce about 1/6th as much C02 as IECs. About 1/8th as much in CA.

car can run 100 miles in electic mode only guys, wake up, it gives more miles per tank hybrid mode. your cars might be of superior technology,but it was yesterdays technology.

The government and major oil companies will have their people out in force trying to convience the people of American that this is bad for the economy and enviorment. Anything to prevent this type cord hybyrd from becoming reality.

We all know what our problems are as it relates to fuel and clean energy. The problem is money influences the press and buys media loyalty. Also we have three type people in this country. There are leaders, followers and those who stand in the way. Watch for the oil company followers and those that stand in the way to fight cord hybyrds tooth and nail. The money being pushed at the media along with lobbiest in Washington will try to influence the majority of Americians that Hybyrds are not a good idea. You can believe they have their own personal financial agenda that only benefits their group and not what is good for the Nation.

Cord Hybyrds are a viable short term answer however the industry is being influnced by billions of dollars in cash and those benefting are fighting this change. If the US had reacted to Pearl Harbour the way the car industry has reacted to the changing oil and car market everyone in America would be speaking Japanese or German would now be speaking German or Japanese.

It is time for the regular Americians (not those in politics or big business) to rattle their congressman's mail boxes and ring their telepones. Hybyrd vehicles are the most valid answer we have to our engery and polution issues today. We as Americians should be pushing this to happen and not in 2011. There is major money within the US and Foreign Oil Companies that is totally opposed to this. It will not happen unless the individual Americans press their Congress to push this agenda.

As far as GM. If they can't produce a vialble Cord Hybyrd vehicle in four years for less than $35K they are not flexiable nor are their engineers and management team smart enough to survive in this competitive world. Without a change in attitude and a sense of urgency no amount of billions will save them.

All the bailouts in the world won't save GM if this hits the US market. Especially if it is half the cost of the volt. This is the pest poetic justice ever. The environment is coming back to bite US automakers in the as*. They killed the electric car and they will be killed by a electric car. How's the Hummer sales working out for ya GM?

All the bailouts in the world won't save GM if this hits the US market. Especially if it is half the cost of the volt. This is the best poetic justice ever. The environment is coming back to bite US automakers in the as*. They killed the electric car and they will be killed by a electric car. How's the Hummer sales working out for ya GM?

I agree that China like Japan are great at copying technology, but GM sold the electric technology to Exxon, so who's the bigger evil? I say GM, under the cirmcumstances, knowing that we were using more oil everyday, and that it would be a security issue at some point, even after the first Gulf War. I say it was treason and Wagoner was part of the GM management that sold out the American People, well sold US really. He and the board have capitalized/profiteered from the war, the terrorist threat & sold America to Opec.

The U.S. is not alone in building great autos. China and Japan might do it better. The problem is that auto making is no longer high tech. Chinese R&D have become world leaders due to American invesment. They can do it all. There has to be a new incentive to invest in th U.S. but none is forthcoming.

The U.S have the technology to build better cars with better mpg but bottom line is oil company and money. If you are the CEO of a manufacture, would you turn away 30 billion to scratch a design that will give 100 mpg from a race performance engine? Do you really think the U.S don't have this technology?????