Our partner – energy storage expert BYD – opened its doors to us and our customers and gave us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look. In this context, two colleagues from sales, along with representatives from EMP, Amperios, Hilker, and Enatek, set off for China in November this year. The experiences and impressions of this impressive trip were recorded by the colleagues in a travel diary.
Day 1: Arrival and Sightseeing in Shenzhen
After arriving in Shenzhen, the first day was used to get to know this huge city with around 20 million inhabitants. We immediately noticed the clean air and the calm in the city traffic, which is mainly due to the high proportion of electric vehicles – about 80% of buses, taxis, and private cars are electric, as well as 100% of scooters like Vespas. Shenzhen is a modern metropolis with numerous impressive buildings and a well-thought-out cityscape. The day gave us a first taste of the technological and ecological future of the city.
Day 2: Visit to the BYD Headquarters
Our first official visit day began at the BYD headquarters and the company’s large exhibition hall. Here we learned more about BYD’s latest developments and innovations. One of the highlights was the ride on the so-called “Skyshuttle,” an autonomous rail vehicle that moves quietly and environmentally friendly across the factory premises.
Afterwards, we visited three of the most important laboratories, where the company’s various research focuses and quality controls were vividly presented. The dimensions of the BYD facilities are impressive – from huge production sites to extensive research departments, everything was designed to the highest technical standards and scale.
Day 3: Test Drives and Conference
On the third day, the morning was dedicated to test driving of the latest BYD vehicles on the factory premises. This opportunity to drive the electric vehicles ourselves and experience their performance firsthand gave us an exciting insight into the technology that BYD is advancing as an automobile manufacturer.
The afternoon was devoted to the conference, which was led, among others, by the General Manager of the BYD Energy Storage & New Application Battery Division. After an informative presentation about the company and its products, participants had the opportunity to share stories and experiences. This was followed by an awards ceremony, making the exchange and networking with other participants a special experience.
Days 4 and 5: Further Travel to Nanning and Visit to the Energy Storage Production Facility
On the fourth day, we traveled to Nanning, where we visited a BYD production facility for commercial energy storage the next day. Particularly impressive was the continuous production chain: everything from the entry of raw materials to the finished product takes place within a single building – an exceptionally efficient and logistically well-thought-out production method. We also noticed the high degree of automation: many steps are carried out by robots, while employees mainly monitor and control the machines.
After this exciting insight, we continued our journey to Guilin to proceed with the cultural part of our trip.
Day 6: Cultural Exploration of Guilin
The sixth day was entirely dedicated to exploring the beautiful region of Guilin. A highlight was the visit to “Elephant Trunk Hill,” a rock formation resembling an elephant’s trunk and a well-known landmark. A boat trip on the Li River offered us breathtaking views of the picturesque landscapes and limestone cliffs that Guilin is famous for. The day concluded with a visit to the Jingjiang Prince’s Palace, a historical site that provided us with insights into China’s rich culture and history.
General Impressions and Conclusion
The trip left a lasting impression on us – particularly due to the gigantic dimensions of the BYD company buildings and the high degree of automation in the production facilities. The city of Shenzhen impressed us with its environmentally friendly transportation, which is almost entirely electric, as well as the fresh air and relaxed traffic situation despite its enormous size. We were also well taken care of in terms of food, and we enjoyed numerous Chinese specialties that enriched our trip culinary.
In summary, the visit to BYD was an extraordinary experience. The hospitality of the company and the opportunity to gain so many insights into the innovative technologies and production processes made this trip an unforgettable experience.