Chinese manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) presented its e6 electric crossover at the Detroit Auto Show and announced plans to bring it to America later this year.

Powered by BYD’s Fe battery, the e6 boasts a range of 205 miles on a single charge in cruising mode, less than the 249 miles from previous reports but still pretty impressive. BYD says the e6 has a top speed of 87 mph and can go from 0 to 60 in under 14 seconds.

As a purely electric vehicle, the e6 produces zero emissions. BYD has also taken the extra step of making its Fe battery recyclable so there’s no worry about batteries leaking harmful chemicals in landfills.

The battery can be recharged through an ordinary household outlet or with BYD’s charging cabinets. In a video presentation, BYD showed its vision of charging stations using wind and solar power. We were a little disappointed BYD did not mention how long it would take to charge the battery to full however.

Gallery: 2010 BYD e6

Chinese manufacturer BYD is getting ready to introduce its electric car to the U.S. in 2010.

According to the Wall Street Journal, BYD’s chairman Wang Chuanfu said the lithium-ion battery powered e6 will be ready ahead of schedule with a limited run of a few hundred vehicles.

With an estimated price tag of $40,000, BYD says the e6 has a range of 249 miles on a single charge.

BYD is a relatively new player in the auto industry. Up until 2003, BYD (which stands for “Build Your Dreams”) produced lithium-ion batteries for devices such as cell phones. BYD established its automotive arm in 2003 and has since earned the backing of Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings which owns a 10 percent stake.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Volkswagen and Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) have signed a “memorandum of understanding” announcing that the two car manufacturers will seek ways to work together to bring electric vehicles and hybrids to market.

Volkswagen recently announced its TwinDrive diesel-electric hybrid system and we recently reported on a rumor that the German automaker will bring an electric car to the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. BYD, which is now part-owned by Warren Buffett, already has a two plug-in gasoline-electric hybrids (the F3DM and the F6DM) on the road in China and plans to bring a full electric car (the e6, shown above) to market soon.

After an informal meeting in Germany, where BYD representatives had the chance to see VW’s facilities and drive the TwinDrive Golf (as well as the still-under-wraps electric car), the agreement was signed by Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Dr Martin Winterkorn, and the Chairman of the Board of Management of BYD, Wang Chuanfu.

Official release after the jump:

After General Motors made it clear in its viability report submitted to the U.S. Treasury that the future of Saturn was uncertain at best, it appears as though Saturn’s network of dealers has its own plan.

Dan Januska, owner of Saturn of Scottsdale, told the Wall Street Journal that the dealers have been in talks to work with a foreign automaker from either China or India. The deal would see Saturn dealers keep their dealerships and retain the Saturn brand, and sell vehicles badged as Saturns, but made by another manufacturer, possibly Chery, Tata, Geely or Build Your Dreams (BYD).

“There are not a whole lot of alternatives,” said Januska to the Journal, “Someone is going to see the value of us and I don’t know who it will be.”

GM’s CEO Rick Wagoner commented on the possibility of the sale of the Saturn name (something General Motors would certainly like to see happen), stating that, “It’s a good distribution network. If someone comes up with an offer, we’re very open to that.”

As we already reported, General Motors stated in its viability plan that it will continue to produce and deliver vehicles to Saturn dealers until 2012, after which GM has no plans for the brand.

[Source: LeftLaneNews via the Wall Street Journal]

Chinese atuo manufacturer Beyond Your Dreams (BYD) announced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit that is it currently working on developing a pure electric vehicle that will offer impressive range.

The announcement was made following news that BYD has developed a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid which is already on the road in China.

Called the e6, this stylish people-mover will be offered in four different power combinations with output ranging from 101hp to 269hp.

With a zero too 60 mph time of 8 seconds, the acceleration of the e6 is certainly healthy.

Even more impressive is BYD’s claim that the e6 will be able to achieve 249 miles on a single charge.

BYD’s claims may seem far fetched but the Chinese auto manufacturer has already beat automotive powerhouses like Toyota and General Motors to market with two plug-in gas electric bybrids (the F3DM and F6DM) which are currently on sale in China.

Chinese battery company and auto manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD) announced at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit that it is already selling its F3DM compact plug-in hybrid and F6DM family-sedan plug-in hybrid in China and has plans to do so in the near future in the United States.

The manufacturer recently made news when it announced that Warren Buffet and MidAmerican Energy Holdings had invested $230 million for a 10 percent stake in the company. The money which will be used to continue the company’s expansion and the development of its e6 electric vehicle.

Both the F3DM and F6DM can travel 62 miles using a zero-emission electric engine. After that point a 1.0-liter gasoline engine will kick in to power the electric engine and charge the batteries. BYD claims the vehicles can be recharged in a standard outlet in seven hours but can also receive a half charge in just 10 minutes. Total range of the vehicles is 267 miles.

Performance is hardly astounding but these are hybrids after all. With the same engine both models have an output of 168hp and 265 ft-lbs of torque. The F3DM can hit 62 mph in 10.5 seconds and the larger F6DM can hit the same speed in 13.5 seconds.

The “DM” in F3DM and F6DM stands for dual mode, as BYD’s hybrids are able to run as both zero-emissions electric vehicles and as conventional hybrids.