Author: Lingfang Wang
In the future, all pure electric models under BYD will be replaced with blade batteries.
On April 7th, 2021, BYD held the “Pure Electric Full-series Equipped with Blade Batteries – BYD New Car Launch Conference” in Chongqing.
Four pure electric models were launched at the conference: 2021 Tang EV, Qin PLUS EV, Song PLUS EV, and 2021 e2, all of which have fully switched to blade batteries.
Wang Chuanfu said, “After the release of blade batteries, almost every car brand you can think of is negotiating with Fudi batteries for cooperation.” Currently, blade battery production capacity is rapidly increasing, with stable and reliable quality exceeding expectations, and started to be supplied to the entire industry.
“In the future, you will be able to see blade batteries gradually installed in new energy vehicles of various mainstream brands at home and abroad.” Wang Chuanfu said.
In addition, when it comes to the global chip shortage, Wang Chuanfu revealed that in the field of vehicle-grade chips, BYD has a early layout, independent research and development, and strong adaptability, making it almost unaffected by the shortage of global automotive chips.
Four models have lowered prices compared to the previous generation
The highlight of this conference is still the four models announced by BYD.
The 2021 Tang EV, Qin PLUS EV, Song PLUS EV, and 2021 e2 four pure electric models have all fully switched to blade batteries. It is worth noting that these four models have lowered prices by 10,000 to 50,000 yuan compared to the previous generation models with the same cruising range.
The Tang EV has seen a significant drop compared to the previous generation products, with a minimum price of 279,500 yuan after subsidies for the 2021 Tang EV, which has a cruising range of 500 kilometers. The 2019 Tang EV600 is priced at 297,900 yuan, a reduction of about 20,000 yuan.
In the 2021 Tang EV series, the best 0-100 km/h acceleration is 4.4 seconds, the shortest braking distance is 34.5 meters, the maximum range is 565 kilometers, and it can travel 118 kilometers with only 10 minutes of charging. It is equipped with a user-friendly human-machine interface and intelligent space, providing users with comprehensive intelligent navigation. The 2021 Tang EV has also introduced a new high-performance luxury four-wheel drive model with a 0-100 km/h acceleration of only 4.6 seconds, becoming the first large and medium-sized four-wheel drive seven-seat pure electric SUV under 300,000 RMB.
The price of the BYD e2 has also been significantly reduced. Taking the 400 km range BYD e2 as an example, the price after subsidy for the 2021 model is 99,800 RMB, while the 2019 model was priced at 109,800 RMB, a decrease of 10,000 RMB.
The 2021 e2 is equipped with blade batteries, lightweight and safe body, comprehensive active and passive safety configurations, and a range of 401 kilometers with a low energy consumption of 10.8 kWh per 100 kilometers, leading the same level of performance.
The lowest price of the 2021 Qin PLUS EV after subsidy is 129,800 RMB. This is a completely new model with a relatively favorable price compared to the 2018 Qin Pro with a 400 km range, which was priced at 169,900 RMB, a drop of nearly 40,000 RMB.
In terms of performance, the most outstanding feature of the 2021 Qin PLUS EV flagship model with ultra-long endurance is its 0-50 km/h acceleration of just 4 seconds, far exceeding the 600 km ultra-long endurance of the same level. It can be charged once and used for commuting for two weeks. With 30 minutes of DC fast charging, the battery can be charged from 30% to 80%.
After subsidy, the price of the 2021 Song PLUS EV is priced at 169,800 RMB, and has a comparable range of 500 kilometers to the 2019 Song Pro, which was priced at 219,800 RMB, a decrease of 50,000 RMB.
Source: Autohome and Autohome### The upgraded Song PLUS EV with the new generation intelligent temperature control system and German luxury car chassis tuning breaks through 505 km range with ease and has an acceleration time of 0 to 50 km in just 4.4 seconds. The whole series is equipped with ultra-intelligent technology configurations such as 360° high-definition panoramic imaging system, holographic transparent imaging system, intelligent remote control driving, new energy-specific mobile power stations, VTOL 220V power output, and more.
Blade battery leads the way, lithium iron phosphate battery sees a significant comeback
BYD’s entire pure electric lineup now comes equipped with blade batteries, which is an action that BYD has been preparing for a long time. In the era of post-subsidy and taking electric vehicle safety into consideration, the advantages of blade batteries have been emphasized.
Wang Chuanfu summarized five major characteristics of blade batteries: super safety, super strength, super lifespan, super range, and super power.
Among them, BYD is most proud of its safety. In a needle test video that BYD has repeatedly broadcasted and is familiar to the industry and users, the surface temperature of the ternary lithium battery exceeded 500 degrees Celsius and burned vigorously after being pierced by a needle; the surface temperature of BYD’s blade battery was only 30-60 degrees Celsius after being pierced by a needle, and there were no flames or smoke.
At this press conference, BYD released another test result for the blade battery: heavy-duty truck pressure test.
The heavy-duty truck pressure test is to have a 46-ton fully-loaded heavy-duty truck run over the blade battery pack. The blade battery pack is intact, without leakage, deformation, or smoke. The battery pack can be reinstalled on the original car and used normally. The test results under extreme and harsh testing conditions are sufficient to prove the performance of blade batteries in terms of safety and strength.
As the market increasingly values the safety of power batteries, many mainstream battery manufacturers and automakers have successively released lithium iron phosphate batteries and corresponding vehicle models. Especially after the launch of blade batteries, car companies have once again re-examined lithium iron phosphate batteries.
In this regard, Wang Chuanfu cited a series of data. From March last year to now, the proportion of pure electric vehicles equipped with lithium iron phosphate batteries has increased from 6% to 32%, more than 5 times higher. The installed capacity of lithium iron phosphate batteries has risen from 0.53 GWh to 6.89 GWh, more than 13 times higher. The proportion of new energy passenger cars equipped with lithium iron phosphate batteries in the monthly announcement of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has increased from 8% to nearly half, more than 6 times higher. As demand continues to expand, the price of lithium iron phosphate cathode materials has also skyrocketed.
Strong Sales of BYD’s Han EV and Increased Sales of BYD New Energy
As the first car model equipped with blade batteries, BYD’s Han EV has received very positive market feedback. Since its launch, Han has had sales exceeding 10,000 units for 4 consecutive months.
In response to this, Wang Chuanfu also listed a set of data to demonstrate the achievements of the Han. In the past year, as many as 1127 car models were sold in China, of which only 43 models were able to achieve monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units.
“There are only 8 high-end cars with an overall price of over 200,000 yuan, and among the middle- and large-sized C-class cars that can achieve this result, it is only BYD’s Han besides BBA,” said Wang Chuanfu. “This is the first time in the 60-plus years of China’s automobile industry that a middle- and large-sized C-class car has achieved monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units for consecutive months.”
Under the leadership of the Han, sales of BYD’s new energy passenger vehicles have increased substantially recently. As for the new energy vehicle sector, BYD has sold a total of 54,751 units in the first three months, a year-on-year increase of 146.72%.
Having achieved initial success with the blade battery, now BYD’s entire lineup of pure electric vehicles is heading to the market and showing an attacking style in pricing. It is very exciting to anticipate how the market feedback will be.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.