Last Thursday, China’s market leader in new energy vehicles, BYD, unveiled their new Qin EV300 electric vehicle (EV). Four models of the car will be available for purchase.
BYD, based in Shenzhen, is aiming to exploit a gap in Beijing’s EV market, but has been facing challenges. It was rumored that the Qin EV300 wouldn’t be available in Beijing until July due to licensing issues. The company hasn’t given detailed information on the matter, although it has claimed that they will manage to get a Beijing license for the Qin series as early as April.
The totally-electric Qin EV300 has several features worth noting. It uses an advanced regenerative braking system to convert energy produced while braking into electric energy that is stored in the car’s battery. Tests have seen the car do 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. The vehicle is equipped with BYD’s electric motor that has a maximum power of 160 kw, and the standard range between charges was announced as 300 km.
The vehicle also includes BYD’s movable power station technology, which can be used to charge other electronic products like home appliances in case of emergencies. Additionally, a PM2.5 air purification system is installed in the vehicle that helps detect and purify the air quality in the car — a truly handy function for tackling smog in Beijing!
EVs are hot right now due to Chinese government subsidies and tax breaks for manufacturers, as well as driving restrictions on gas-powered vehicles in cities. When applying the state subsidy to the price of the vehicle, the Qin EV300 sells from between RMB 149,800 to RMB 199,800.
Other notable competitors in China’s EV industry include Beijing-based BAIC Motor and Xiaopeng Motors. And we can’t forget the world’s EV giant, Tesla. The Tesla Model 3 was released last Friday and has attracted huge interest in China.
Hush, hush! Don’t tell BYD.
（Top photo from BYD website）
