Chinese firm dreams up dual-mode hybrid

Earlier this year, Chinese company Build Your Dream (BYD Auto) announced the launch of the F6DM, a car that might possibly emerge as the first plug-in hybrid on the market (though not available outside China). Now the Shenzen-based outfit has revealed plans to build a smaller, less-expensive follow-up.

The F3DM, with its design cues taken from the Toyota Corolla, was showcased at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. The car allows drivers to switch between full-electric and hybrid modes.

In full-electric mode it has a fairly impressive range of 80 miles between charges. There is also a small conventional engine enabling the car to function like a regular gasoline-electric hybrid.

The model will be rolled out in China by the end of this year, via a test fleet of 200 taxicabs in hometown Shenzen. The company hopes to sell cars in Europe in 3 years and the U.S. in 3 to 5 years.

We're not getting our hopes up, though; so far Chinese auto makers have had a hard time jumping into the emissions and safety standards of the U.S. and E.U.

Via Treehugger and Greencarcongress