Thread: EV general discussion

BYD news
The 2026-2030 Roadmap
2026 (The "Stepping Stone" Year): BYD is currently participating in the China All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform (CASIP) to standardize production. Large-scale vehicle testing and validation of full battery packs are expected to occur throughout this year.
2027 (Small-Batch Production): BYD's Investor Relations department confirmed (as of Feb 9, 2026) that sulfide-based solid-state batteries will enter small-scale production. Initial deployment is slated for high-end luxury models, specifically the Yangwang sub-brand.
2030 (Mass Market): Large-scale commercial application and integration into mass-market models (like the Seal or Atto series) are targeted for 2030.
Technical Specifications & Breakthroughs
Recent updates from BYD’s R&D division highlight several key performance targets for their sulfide-based cells:
Feature: Energy DensityPerformance Target: Reaching 400 Wh/kg, nearly double the current Gen 2 Blade Battery.
Feature: Driving RangePerformance Target: Potential for 1,000 km to 1,500 km on a single charge in premium sedans.
Feature: Fast ChargingPerformance Target: Targeted 10-12 minute charge for 80% capacity.
Feature: Cycle LifePerformance Target: Aiming for high stability, though BYD recently stole headlines by announcing a 10,000-cycle sodium-ion battery alongside its solid-state progress.


The Verdict: Who is Winning?
QuantumScape is currently delivering B-samples (more advanced testing prototypes) to multiple global OEMs and has a technical edge in "anode-free" design.
BYD is winning on vertical integration. While QS has a "Kitty Hawk moment" with a pilot line, BYD already has the supply chain to turn a breakthrough into a million cars almost overnight.
Key Risk to Watch
The "Valley of Death" for both remains yield. Moving from a pilot line (thousands of cells) to a Gigafactory (millions of cells) is where most solid-state dreams fail. BYD has a better track record of scaling (see: Blade Battery), while QuantumScape’s success is entirely dependent on partners like Volkswagen and PowerCo executing on the manufacturing side.
The race is on

Friend picked up his new volvo xc30 yesterday. Delightful little car. It's made by the volvo parent company Geely.

I did have a drive. Drives well. Lovely interior if a little light on equipment for the class. The biggest negative I've got for it is that it's quite small (think Golf size) but it costs the same (or more) than several much larger SUV's. It's also not super efficient on energy.. probably about the same as all the other cars. So if it costs the same as a big car, uses the same or more energy.. I'd get a bigger car.