BYD Motors to debut e6 Premier, S6DM plug-in vehicles at the Detroit Auto Show

China's BYD came out of nowhere in early 2009 to debut a MID / phone running Windows XP, but consumer electronics are just one arm (actually spun off) of the relatively young mega-corporation. Its BYD Motors division has also been working on various plug-in vehicles for the past few years, and it's now set to roll into the Detroit Auto Show next month with two new models. Those include the all-electric e6 Premier crossover, and the S6DM dual-mode plug-in hybrid SUV, the former of which promises a range of 300 kilometers and a top speed of 140km/h, while the latter can eek out 60 kilometers solely on electric power or close to 500 kilometers when the 2.0L gasoline engine comes into play. What's more, the company is apparently also promising a US launch announcement of some sort, although Autoblog Green suspects that will involve the earlier F3DM hybrid (pictured above), which has already begun testing in California, and the E6 electric crossover. Head on past the break for the full press release.

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BYD to Announce Green Vision at NAIAS on January 10th

BYD Co., Ltd (BYD) is to reveal plans for the launch of US-ready green-technology vehicles and products. BYD plans to present their "Three Green Dreams" Strategy at the upcoming 2011 North America International Auto Show (NAIAS) from January 10th to 23rd. BYD will showcase their "Green City Solutions", their green electric vehicle series, and a portfolio of eco-friendly products including: solar panels, home energy storage units and energy-saving LED Lighting. This is BYD's fourth consecutive appearance at the Detroit COBO Center for the Auto Show.

BYD's "Three Green Dreams" focuses on renewable energy generation, environmentally-friendly energy storage and efficient energy consumption, covering solar power, Iron-phosphate energy storage and electric vehicles. BYD will present their short and long term "Green City Solutions" which includes plans to help cities electrify all public transportation, and reduce air pollution and carbon emissions at a low cost.

BYD's pure-electric vehicle -- the e6 Premier (2012 Year Model) and the brand-new dual mode electric SUV -- the S6DM will make their world premieres on the main floor exhibit space at the COBO Center at the 2011 NAIAS. The World's first mass-produced F3DM sedan low-carbon version and the core drive technology of the pure-electric bus, shown at EVS25 recently, will also be showcased.

The new 5-seat crossover -- the BYD e6 Premier (2012 Year Model) has a more dynamic and sporty exterior design. Equipped with BYD Iron-phosphate "FE" battery, the e6 Premier has an expected range of 300km (or 186.4 miles) on urban roads, while its projected top speed is 140km/h (or 87 mph). It only takes 40 minutes to fully charge the e6 on the 100kW fast charging cabinet and 6 hours to overnight-charge the e6 on the 10kW standard charging pole. These characteristics make the e6 ideal for daily commuters and in-town driving.

The core technology of the pure-electric K9 e-Bus is another BYD breakthrough in the field of electrified transportation. The specially designed in-wheel electric drive and the electronically-controlled air suspension allows this 12-meter-long e-Bus to have ample space and a low-floor for easy passenger loading and unloading. The K9 is able to run 250+ km (155+ miles) on a single charge.

The BYD S6DM SUV is the world's first independent 4WD dual-mode electric SUV. Traveling over 60km (38 miles) purely on electric power and over 310 miles extended range when engaging the environmentally friendly 2.0L gasoline engine, this SUV sports a 10kW electric motor (M1) paired with a smooth 6-speed dual-clutch transmission propelling the front wheels while a powerful 75kW electric motor (M2) powers the rear wheels.

The F3DM low-carbon version also features the BYD Fe battery together with a BYD 371QA 1.0-liter gasoline engine. This vehicle is equipped standard with a solar panel sunroof to parallel charge the Fe battery. Powered by the Fe battery pack alone, the F3DM can travel over 60km (38+ miles). The extended range HEV mode allows the car to achieve another 500 km (or 313 miles) with a maximum speed of 150km/h (about 93.2 mph).

About BYD

BYD is ranked #1 at the top of Bloomberg's and BusinessWeek's 2009 Tech 100 List and is the leading manufacturer of advanced, environmentally-friendly battery technologies like the BYD's Iron Phosphate battery. BYD's solar panels and LED Lighting systems have TUV/CE and UL listings, and the company enjoys rapid growth in consumer electronics space and automobile manufacturing under its BYD brand. With investments from Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) and MidAmerican Energy Holdings, today, BYD is the fastest-growing Chinese automotive and green energy technology manufacturer.