from Hacker News

New BYD Hybrid Can Drive Non-Stop for More Than 2k Kilometers

by Heidaradar on 5/29/24, 11:06 AM with 82 comments

  • by keploy on 5/29/24, 12:13 PM

    You only need about 35 hp to keep a 4000lb car cruising at 70 mph. The idea? Run the powertrain totally on battery, then toss in a 50 or 70 hp engine just to charge it up.

    It's flipping the hybrid script: instead of using electric for low demand and gas for more juice, it's electric for the main power and gas just for the battery.

    This puts the heavy lifting on the 90% efficient powertrain and eases up on the super inefficient 25% one.

    Toyota should've been all over this back in 2015.

  • by throwaway4good on 5/29/24, 11:10 AM

  • by pingou on 5/29/24, 11:33 AM

    How is that useful? It just has a big tank of gas, no? That doesn't really seem revolutionary.

    2.9 l/100 km is pretty good though.

  • by Heidaradar on 5/29/24, 11:18 AM

    I wonder how Tesla is going to respond. They might have most of the EV market in the US but if I was looking for my first EV, I wouldn't choose them.
  • by amanzi on 5/29/24, 11:34 AM

    Toyota have been making hybrids since the 90s. How is it that BYD have managed to come out of nowhere and doubled the range of any Prius?
  • by rolivercoffee on 5/29/24, 11:43 AM

    I'm not sure my bladder could handle driving 2,000km without a stop!
  • by prmoustache on 5/29/24, 11:45 AM

    Nobody wants to tackle the elephant in the room. I don't care if Tesla, Byd or another manufacturer give me a few kms more of range. First I want a car that doesn't send data to the manufacturer and/or third parties and do not track me.

    Does that unicorn still even exist or do I have to wait for UE to do something about it?

  • by throwaway4good on 5/29/24, 11:31 AM

    https://carnewschina.com/2024/05/28/byd-qin-l-launches-in-ch...

    Looks like incredible value and fuel efficiency at the price point.

  • by sharpshadow on 5/29/24, 11:29 AM

    That's remarkable for a brand new vehicle to cost under $15k and having 2000km range.
  • by drcongo on 5/29/24, 11:49 AM

    I like the name, "2000km range? 'kinell!"