Big news from @nurobots: they're building a test track and factory in Nevada, where they will develop and test autonomous delivery vehicles on a platform supplied by BYD. Huge partnership and step forward for this exciting AV developer! businesswire.com/news/home/2021…
BYD has been talking about US market ambitions for ages, but I certainly didn't predict that the first light vehicle (not bus) to leverage a BYD platform in this country would be an AV! Will be interesting to see how this platform supplier business plays out for them.
Meanwhile, after decades of EV analysts looking down their noses at the less-energy-dense lithium iron phosphate chemistry pioneered by BYD, even Tesla is following BYD's lead and expanding its use of the heavier but cheaper and safer chemistry.
https://twitter.com/stevelevine/status/1430979367174393863
The first vehicles built on BYD's new "Blade" structural cell-to-pack architecture just hit the road in Norway, building on their lead in LFP chemistry. They even had to deny rumors that Tesla was going to buy the new packs! pandaily.com/byd-denies-rum…
Anyway, both Nuro and BYD are both companies that a lot of people seem to overlook, despite each being very well-placed in their respective sectors. Together they make a formidable team, and I'm excited to see where their collaboration goes!
More on the rise of LFP chemistry in EV batteries can be found here, courtesy of the battery supply chain gurus at Benchmark Minerals. BYD is claiming to have driven Blade's battery costs below the fabled $100/kWh level:
https://twitter.com/sdmoores/status/1431000454067073026
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