This is the new BYD T5 electric light-truck, a vehicle that could revolutionize transport in China. The BYD T5 will have a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour and a range of about 400 kilometer, making it a perfect solution for transportation within city limits.
Today, this work is done by very noisy and very dirty diesel-powered trucks, polluting the skies as they drive from the distribution centers on the edge of town to their destinations inside town. The seldom go faster than 40 and easily drive a few hundred kilometers a day. It is this system that BYD is aiming at with the T5, accompanied by the smaller BYD T3 and larger BYD T7. Going all-electric would definitely make a difference.
Biggest obstacle is price. Light trucks are almost as cheap as televisions in China, and fuel is still very cheap as well. The T5 thus has to be cheap enough to convince transport companies they can earn back the extra investment very fast. The government will likely help out with generous subsidies, as this is exactly the kind of green-tech invention Beijing has been dreaming about for so long.
Battery pack sits between the front and rear axes, below the load bay.
Pictures via.
50 km/h looks a too low max speed. This truck should have at least 80 km/h max speed. Even destinated to the trafic in the congested cities of the China mainlnad, a too limited speed can be both dangerous for the other vehicles and not practical for the driver and the trasportation company. Anyway the idea of pure electric trucks for the transportation of the good in the cities of China is very good. BYD still remain the company with the best EV marketing concepts in between the domestic EV makers.
You have a valid point but if only being used in city
50k is quite enough. Tha faster you go the more you strain the batteries.
Taxis, Buses, and Trucks! This are the crucial sectors for EV and it seems BYD are progressing well!
Please have a look at the following links to qualify why I make my statement..
http://youtu.be/Qz1BaheLzaA