BYD Launches Sealion 08, Starts Mass Producing 4D Radar Chip

This is car news out of China, and it doesn't have much to do with home energy upgrades. BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle maker, has launched a new SUV called the Sealion 08, sold in China starting around $34,000 to about $42,000 depending on the version. It comes as a full electric model or a plug-in hybrid (a car with both a battery and a gas engine), with either five or six seats.

The electric version's range is notable: up to 900 kilometers (about 559 miles) on a charge, according to BYD's ratings. The plug-in hybrid version gets 350 to 400 kilometers (roughly 217 to 249 miles) on electric power alone before the gas engine kicks in. The car also supports very fast charging, going from 10 percent to 70 percent battery in about 5 minutes, thanks to BYD's second-generation "Blade Battery."

Separately, BYD's chip-making division has started mass-producing its own radar sensor for driver-assist systems, letting the company make more of its self-driving hardware in-house rather than buying it from suppliers.

None of this is available in the U.S. market, and it doesn't touch on home electrification, rebates, or upgrades like heat pumps or insulation. If you're weighing an EV purchase, the relevant takeaway is simply that battery and charging technology keep advancing quickly, which may eventually show up in models sold where you live.