On October 13, 2016, BYD's 4.4-kilometer electric-drive straddle-type monorail system (hereinafter referred to as the "electric-drive rail transit system"), manufactured at its Pingshan base in Shenzhen, began operation (testing). This straddle-type monorail system, independently developed and manufactured by BYD, was initially tested within the factory premises (for technical testing and to address employee commuting needs). Prior to this, the China Development Bank and BYD officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement, with a planned total financing amount of 60 billion yuan for various cooperative ventures between the two parties from 2016 to 2020.
The outside world's attitude towards BYD, a rapidly developing private car manufacturer, has also been drawn to the Chinese government's accelerated policies for developing new energy technologies, complete vehicles, and the entire industry chain. BYD has consistently maintained a technological lead of 1 to 1.5 generations over its Chinese counterparts in the new energy passenger car, bus, commercial vehicle, and special vehicle sectors.
In 2012, the e6 electric car with a range of 300 kilometers and the K9 series electric bus with a range of 250 kilometers were launched. At the same time, other brands of electric vehicles sold in China had a range of only 150 kilometers.
In 2014, the Qin, a hybrid electric vehicle with an electric driving range of 70 kilometers, was launched. At the same time, no similarly performing models were available in China. The hybrid technology used in vehicles like the GM Volt and Toyota Prius did not overlap with that of the BYD Qin.
In 2015, the BYD Tang, a hybrid electric vehicle with an electric driving range of 80 kilometers and equipped with a super electric four-wheel drive system, was launched. Around the same time, the SAIC Roewe e550 (hybrid) was competing with the BYD Qin. The BYD Tang was in a position where it had no competitors.
In 2016, the Qin EV (e5), a pure electric vehicle with a driving range of 300 kilometers, was launched. No competing models with similar technology and prices from the same period have been launched to this day.
From 2015 to 2016, BYD launched its K-series electric buses and T-series electric transport vehicles, which even became the main products exported to the United States and European markets. Meanwhile, the super electric forklift business had already begun to generate profits.
From January to June 2016, BYD sold 49,000 new energy vehicles, including 22,000 electric vehicles. Currently, BYD accounts for approximately 27% of the total new energy vehicle market, 36% of the new energy passenger vehicle market, and 65% of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle market, making it the world's top-selling new energy vehicle manufacturer.
BYD's passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and special-purpose vehicles, which utilize new energy technologies, are all independently developed and manufactured, including motors, batteries, and electronic control systems. This results in BYD's new energy products either having a technological advantage over competitors or a more competitive price.
Now, BYD is applying its innovative motor, battery, and electronic control technologies to electric-drive rail transit systems. Although BYD previously lacked experience in the research and development and manufacturing of rail-based vehicles, given its origins in manufacturing consumer batteries and its strong development in the traditional automotive industry and the application of new energy technologies to passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and special vehicles, BYD's development in the new rail-based manufacturing industry does not present many technical challenges.
Although BYD only established its Light Rail Transit Research Institute earlier in 2016, it had already conducted feasibility studies and preliminary research on related technologies for this project five years prior (with a research and development cost of 5 billion RMB).
Electric Vehicle Times has obtained relevant technical parameters of BYD's electric drive rail transit system from related sources:
1. Lightweight vehicle body:
To reduce the vehicle's weight, it is made of aluminum alloy, which can effectively cope with the slight twisting that occurs when the vehicle is running.
2. Second-generation wheel-side drive motor:
All wheel-side drive motors are independently developed and manufactured, employing permanent magnet synchronous technology, with the motor directly driving the walking mechanism. The second-generation wheel-side motor technology effectively balances size, weight, torque, precision, noise, and life-cycle maintenance costs.
3. Single-axle steering system:
The steering system of the track system currently being tested at BYD's Pingshan plant adopts a single-axle design, which can meet the steering requirements of curved lines with large curvatures. Compared with the steering systems used in traditional wheeled vehicles, this single-axle steering structure reduces the turning radius and lowers energy consumption (generated by tire friction).
4. Power battery:
This electric rail transit system undoubtedly incorporates "iron batteries" to ensure continued operation even if the power supply system embedded in the track sidewalls fails. Simultaneously, energy recovered during braking is stored in the onboard battery.
5. Control strategies integrating autonomous driving technology:
Although BYD has not yet introduced autonomous driving and intelligent control technologies in the passenger vehicle (including commercial vehicle) sector, it has taken the lead in introducing related technologies to achieve autonomous driving (both manned and unmanned) in its rail transit systems.
By integrating the subway, high-speed rail, and new energy bus systems commonly built in various Chinese cities, BYD's electric drive rail transit system encompasses leading core technologies such as iron-phosphate batteries, wheel-side drive motors, energy recovery systems suitable for rail transit, and autonomous driving. Ultimately, BYD manufactures all components, including the complete vehicles, tracks, stations, and signal control systems.
Electric Vehicle Era Review:
Based on intelligence analysis from relevant channels, the biggest advantage of BYD's electric-drive rail transit system is that it can meet the public transportation needs of densely populated areas in first-, second-, and third-tier cities with low construction, operation, and maintenance costs.
Unlike the "Transit Elevated Bus" (TEB) project, which was used as a money-grabbing scheme, BYD's electric-drive rail transit system won Shenzhen's first 60-kilometer rail project (worth 10 billion yuan) and Shantou's 250-kilometer rail project (worth 25 billion yuan). Currently, BYD has secured letters of intent for a total of 300 kilometers of rail projects in multiple cities, with a total investment of nearly 50 billion yuan. BYD's electric-drive rail system occupies less road space, making it suitable for large-scale transportation tasks in congested urban areas.
Compared to the cost of 1 billion RMB per kilometer for rail transit (subway, elevated) projects in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, BYD's electric-drive rail system costs only 1/5 of that of a subway. Clearly, BYD's electric-drive rail system has a significant cost advantage in terms of demolition and construction in densely populated cities.
The mature technology and reliable subsystems of BYD's K9 series electric buses can be applied, or modified, to drive rail transit systems.
The suspension solution used in K9 (wheel-side motors, braking system, energy recovery system) can be applied to drive rail transit systems.
BYD's self-developed and manufactured BC series electric air conditioning compressors continue to be a part of the power system for rail transit.
The underlying technologies used in BYD's electric drive track system largely originate from mature vehicle technologies. The second-generation wheel-side motor technology is an upgrade (weight reduction, weight reduction, weight reduction) of the wheel-side motors used in the K9; the lightweight body technology is based on the aluminum alloy body manufacturing standards consistently used in the K9 electric bus. Unmanned driving (intelligent control) technology is a direction BYD has been continuously developing. Only in the areas of locomotive exterior, interior, electrical systems, signal control, PC track beams, and steering systems does BYD, with the support of the Third Railway Survey and Design Institute, gain the ability to produce these components independently.
As a technology-driven manufacturer, BYD's electric drive track system utilizes technologies that include upgrading existing technology systems, expanding existing reserves for research and development, and developing entirely new technologies and control strategies for the target system.
This electric-drive track system development model breaks with traditional project setting rules. Basic technologies are addressed through a "technology-driven" approach, while standardized technologies are solved through a "model-driven" approach. Upon completion, BYD's technology and experience in this entirely new and previously unexplored field will provide a guarantee for the next stage of industrial upgrading.
In fact, BYD, accustomed to "going it alone," has already independently developed and manufactured all core systems related to the rail transit field, including track beams (PC beams), turnouts, and signal control. All in all, BYD's R&D reach is quietly extending from the automotive industry into the rail transit sector. Currently, BYD's electric drive rail system has laid 4.4 kilometers of straddle-type track in its Pingshan plant area (all designed and manufactured by BYD's Changsha base). The traction vehicles developed and manufactured by BYD can operate in both unmanned and manned modes. The driver's cab utilizes full electric drive technology (the colored arrows indicate vehicle control levers). Real-time data such as images of the vehicle ahead and vehicle status information can be viewed through three sets of display systems (red arrows). The rail system within the plant area has seven stations, which not only verify BYD's self-developed control strategies and signal management systems but also solve employee commuting issues.
The error between different modules of the PC beam (track) manufactured by BYD is less than 2mm.
BYD independently mastered the structural challenges and technical key points of drive, rail transit system steering system, and drive system.
From a commercial perspective, BYD's electric-drive rail transit system is fully capable of undertaking urban connection lines, urban trunk commuting, airport (railway station) internal operations, scenic area sightseeing, and tourist attraction routes. Just as the K9 series electric buses have reached the global market, BYD's electric-drive rail transit system is technically ready for export.
Unlike BYD's "7+4" strategic system, the electric-drive rail transit system will become another area where BYD can gain more benefits than its peers when entering the government procurement system.
According to Electric Vehicle Times, in 2020, when the Chinese government stopped providing substantial subsidies for new energy technologies, complete vehicles, and the entire industry chain, BYD still managed to achieve a superior survival under pure market principles by relying on its own technological advantages and revolutionary cross-industry development! All of this stems from BYD's commitment to research and development and mastery of core new energy technologies.
BYD's future development direction: Starting with consumer batteries, BYD will gradually expand into automobile manufacturing, new energy power battery R&D and production, new energy vehicle R&D and manufacturing, and new energy rail transit R&D and full life cycle solutions. A new industrial chain upgrade project plan centered around "iron (or aluminum) batteries" has already taken shape over the next two years. This new industrial chain project, as referred to by the author, may revolve around aerospace, water transportation, precision instruments, special vehicles, and large-capacity mobile energy support.
These industries where BYD may be involved, which rely less on power batteries, differ significantly from the new energy vehicle model, which is heavily reliant on power batteries. This might suggest that BYD's reliance on and emphasis on the "iron battery" system is merely a springboard for its cross-industry development, and this "cutting-edge technology" development model will be replicated in other fields. This is what makes BYD truly formidable.
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