BYD’s 1,500+ hp EV supercar is cheaper and faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo S [Images]

This one's a car story, not a home energy story, but here's the gist: BYD, the Chinese automaker, just launched an electric supercar called the Denza Z. It comes in three versions, all with over 1,500 horsepower, and the fastest one can go from 0 to 62 mph in under 2 seconds. Prices in the UK start around $192,000 and go up to about $232,000, which is less than a Porsche 911 Turbo S. In China, the same car sells for roughly half that, starting around $100,000.

The car uses an 800-volt electrical system paired with BYD's fast-charging technology, letting the battery go from 10 percent to 70 percent in about five minutes. Range varies by version, topping out around 254 miles on one trim. It also has an adjustable suspension system that can react to bumps in the road, and a cabin built around large touchscreens with Google software built in.

None of this changes anything about home energy upgrades, rebates, or weatherization. It's simply a sign of how far electric vehicle technology has come, with fast charging and high performance now showing up in a low-cost luxury sports car from a Chinese brand competing directly with European names like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. The car isn't sold in the United States, so for now it has no bearing on driveways here, let alone home electrical or charging setups.