BYD shows what their next generation of electric vehicles will look like with the Ocean-X Concept.
Malaysians may not be very familiar with BYD, but they’re a really successful company when it comes to electric vehicles and related technology. Singapore has used their electric taxis in the past, Tesla may use their Blade Batteries in the future and right now their Tang SUVs are being sold in Norway.
Last week, the company announced their next innovation in the EV space with the introduction of a new car chassis called the e-platform 3.0. They showcased this new platform with the creation of a new concept car called the BYD Ocean-X.
The BYD Ocean-X concept isn’t like your typical all-electric sports sedan. It has its batteries built into the car’s body and an ‘8-in-1’ electric powertrain.
Blade Batteries In Its Body
Just about every electric car made today is designed to house its batteries on the floor of the vehicle. As battery packs are often the heaviest single item to go into an electric vehicle, the floor presents the ideal way for engineers to keep the centre of gravity low for better dynamics. The floor is also more protected from most common collissions, protecting the battery cells from being punctured in a crash.
However, Tesla has already indicated that their next step in EV design is to house batteries within the structure of vehicle. Using the batteries are part of the car’s body helps to increase its overall rigidity and lowers weight. Now BYD is doing the same thing with their Ocean-X concept.
The Blade Batteries used employ LiFePo chemistry instead of typical lithium-ion cell chemistry. This makes them a lot safer to use, especially in this new manner.
8-in-1 electric powertrain
What BYD means by 8-in-1 here is that there are 8 innovative highlights in this new powertrain design.
- more than 1000km of range
- 150km of range recovered in just 5 minutes of charging
- new direct cooling and heating system for 20% better thermal efficiency
- heat pump system that increases range by 20% in winter using residual heat
- new electric AWD system with energy consumption of a 2WD system
- 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds
Yes, that’s only 6, but let’s assume some of these count as 2 innovations each?
Here’s the press release with more information.
PRESS RELEASE
On September 8, BYD officially launched the e-platform 3.0 for pure electric vehicles. With outstanding advantages in intelligence, efficiency, safety, and aesthetics, the e-platform 3.0 aims to promote NEVs’ performance in safety and low-temperature driving range as well as improving intelligent driving experiences, to build more efficient and safer new intelligent EVs. Therefore, the new-generation BYD e-platform covers vehicles of varying sizes ranging from small to large and will still be open to the industry to facilitate the development of intelligent EVs worldwide.
Built upon the e-platform 3.0, the unveiled Ocean-X concept is a mid-size sporty sedan with high-performance. The Ocean-X brings brand new experiences in performance and intelligent driving thanks to the fully integrated blade batteries in the car body, an 8-in-1 electric powertrain, and an all-wheel-drive architecture.
Wang Chuanfu, the Chairman and President of BYD, said that the e-platform 3.0 is the vital factor for its transition toward intelligence from electrification in the change of NEVs and also the cradle for the next generation of EVs. BYD’s integrated new energy solutions encompass energy acquisition, storage, and application. With the help of this comprehensive solution, BYD aims to build a zero-emission ecosystem within a closed-loop to address global warming through practical action.
Regarding safety, equipped with ultra-safe blade batteries while integrating the pack into the car body, the e-platform 3.0 builds up a special pure electric vehicle frame structure to increase the rigidity of the vehicle.
Concerning high efficiency, the new platform enables ranges exceeding 1,000 km through the world’s first 8-in-1 electric powertrain. In addition, the world’s first fast charging technology enables a range up to 150 km after a 5-minute charging. The original designed direct cooling and heating system for batteries increases the thermal efficiency by up to 20% while reducing energy loss. Additionally, the heat pump system which can work at temperatures from -30℃ to 60℃, has increased the range by up to 20% in winter, since the system leverages the residual heat from surroundings, the powertrain, passenger compartment and even the batteries. Finally, the brand-new electric AWD system features 0-100 km/h acceleration improved to 2.9 s, resulting in energy consumption comparable to that of 2WD vehicles, while letting users enjoy the high performance of AWD EVs.
Regarding intelligence, the e-platform 3.0 deeply integrated the drive, braking, and steering system. The industry’s first drive train domain controller has been developed through the fully utilization of the electric motors’ fast response, and has been applied on the model EA1(code name). BYD’s smart cockpit domain controller and smart body domain controller are already in mass production. As for software, BYD has independently developed the BYD OS which decouples hardware and software, offering an elite collaboration system for high levels of intelligent driving.
On the side of aesthetics, the vehicle features shorter overhangs and a longer wheelbase, significantly expanding the passenger space; a lower body and a longer wheelbase liberate the vehicle’s aerodynamic design, decreasing the drag coefficient to 0.21Cd.
Ocean-X, a mid-size concept car which is built based on the e-platform 3.0, excels in safety, range, charging, intelligence, and design, making it a more efficient and safer intelligent EV for the next generation.
