Electric Vehicles Have Current! (part 2)

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This is part 2 of this article; for part one, click here.


Next up. A brand that we’ll likely see on the roads in the U.S. very soon. BYD had what may have been the largest passenger vehicle displayed at the show; an SUV that I quickly judged to be about the size of a Lexus RX. 


When comparing the specs, I'm not too far off. Widths of the two vehicles are just about the same however the RX is 2 inches taller and just over 8 inches longer, while the e6 has a wheel base of 111.4 compared to the Lexus at 107.9.


BYD. Their brand name is an acronym for “Build Your Dreams” and a recent claim to fame by the company states until recently they were the largest domestic automobile manufacturer in China. Wow. They make buses too, however, the “pure electric” SUV model on exhibit, the e6, seats five and has a range of 187 miles.

Part of the BYD exhibit

The company came to be in the mid-nineties and is the largest Chinese manufacturer of rechargeable batteries. On-line sources suggest they save money by taking advantage of inexpensive local labor to keep costs down. 
Let’s assume that the savings will be passed along to future purchasers.


In 2009, Warren Buffett was intrigued by the innovation coming from the company’s owner and bought in. In fact, according to this article he bought 10% of BYD for $230 million. That’s a lot of batteries! The stock peaked that year at HK$85.5 a share (about $11 U.S.) but is currently worth about HK$17.66 ($2.27 USD). 

Here's a front view of the e6; does the badge look like it should say "Ford" when you look at it really fast?


Will BYD’s entry into the U.S. market help raise the value of the business? Ah, but there’s a catch. The e6 is only available for fleet sales. Consumers won’t be able to visit a dealer and buy one. Yet. An article from 2011 mentioned 2nd quarter 2012 however, the folks at the show stated that the vehicle is not available for consumers, period.


BYD’s North American headquarters is in Los Angeles. Couldn’t help noticing that other Chinese companies have offices in this fair city as well. 


One was Nia that offers everything from electric sports cars to motorcycles, eATVs, buses, even small planes. Here’s what the landing page on their website looks like:

Well, won’t be telling you too much about them today! I did grab a tiny brochure that measures about three by ten. Very few words on it but lots of microscopic illustrations with lots of detail. Creases in the heavy paper allow you to fold it up neatly and presumably carry it and share with your friends.  In the EVS-26 brochure there’s another website listed, however, that site has information about LED lighting technology and nothing on transportation. Sigh. Not much for consumers to grab onto here.


Will keep an eye on this company and perhaps write more about them in the future. Makes you wonder about some of the other companies present there; do they have some on-line presence catching up to do too?


And there’s still more to talk about! Stay tuned for part three.


Since Warren Buffett isn’t musical, thought you’d enjoy Jimmy instead:

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Los Angeles Auto Show: Before the Show, Part 2

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If you haven't read part one, click here. See you back here in a few minutes!

So, what IS everybody doing here? Think of it as the B to B before the B to C. The media is here looking for a good story. The brands holding press conferences are going to include the most pertinent information about their brands. This year, the common thread was fuel economy.

Several declarations on this topic included stats on the average fuel economy for a brand or how many models in the line-up could boast 35 miles per gallon or higher.

While presentations are generally made by corporate Presidents and Veeps, there’s some celebrity action too. At Mazda’s presentation, Patrick Dempsey was in the audience and acknowledged because of his involvement with their racing arm. He stood up briefly. The crowd cheered. I was way in the back of the sea of people and only saw him on the big screen. Drats.

I was, however, fortunate enough to get to the Kia show early. The photographer pen, a raised platform with a railing around it, had yet to fill up:

But back to the celebrity spotting. At Kia’s press conference, two brand new, hilarious commercials featuring basketball player Blake Griffin, who plays with the Los Angeles Clippers, were shared. Blake appeared onstage as part of the presentation bantering and standing tall for about five minutes.


But wait! Let’s get back to the cars, the REAL stars. There are lots of vehicles that are truly meant to draw attention, like this one, from Smart:

And there’s always a luxury version of something. Fiat, recently landing back on U.S. shores after a long absence (do you recall the Brava or the 124?) is making a splash with Jennifer Lopez. But did you know that you could make a stylish statement in a Gucci edition? Available in black or white:

Note the accessories on the wall behind the car. If you’re going to have the car with this prestigious brand, why not have some accessories too? I may go back for consumer days just to observe reactions to this co-branding experiment.

The exhibits also play an important role, reflecting the imagery of the brand. Some are fun; others have a more luxurious look to them. How cushy is your carpet? One of my favorite exhibits was from newcomer, Coda. The colors of tan, yellow, and teal went together nicely. They had the best overhead display. Surprisingly, most brands don’t take the time to decorate the ceiling, but it made the whole Coda exhibit, which was tucked back in a corner, feel more intimate. But I am taking away points for the smelly flooring that looked like 1962 linoleum.

Speaking of Coda, they will be introducing their all electric sedan very soon. The car’s appearance is a bit lackluster, but my roaming camera, spending little time strapped on my shoulder, captured some beauty:

Wrapping up, here’s a few other highlights for you. If you’re in the great Los Angeles show and happen to attend the show this week, let us know what you enjoyed.

Hyundai Veloster

Honda CRV

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Volvo Concept Car

Cadillac Ciel

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