SHANGHAI -- BYD Auto Co. says it plans to sell its plug-in hybrid vehicle in Europe over the next two years in a partnership with the German utility company RWE Effizienz GmbH.
BYD will supply its F3DM plug-in hybrid and e6 electric vehicle while RWE will provide quick-charge stations.
"BYD would like to bring its electric vehicles to Europe, and will start selling such EVs around 2012 in some countries," said Yongping Chen, BYD Auto's Europe manager, in a statement.
Chen said BYD would sell hybrids and EVs in countries that offer sales incentives for EVs, and where charging stations are available. The partners did not name the countries in which they plan to sell EVs. However, they confirmed plans to produce an EV fleet for a trial program in Germany. And RWE noted that it maintains charging stations in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and 12 other European countries.
The two companies also say they will set common standards for charging stations in Europe and China.
RWE said it has already commissioned 450 rechargers in Germany, which will use electricity generated from renewable sources. The utility estimates more than 300,000 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will be on the streets of European cities by 2015.
BYD introduced the F3DM hybrid compact car and the e6 crossover EV in China earlier this year. The F3DM can travel from 60 to 100km on its batteries alone.
BYD claims the e6 has a range of 300 kilometers. A full battery charge takes less than one hour, according to information released by the private Chinese company.
