BYD achieves 1,300-mile driving range with latest PHEVs · TechNode
BYD on Tuesday unveiled its latest-generation plug-in hybrid platform DM-i 5.0. The company said the technology gives its newest models a driving range of 2,100 kilometers (1,305 miles) at a starting price of only RMB 99,800 ($13,772), an advance that will likely accelerate China’s transition from fossil fuels to green vehicles.
Why it matters: The launch comes after figures from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) show that new energy vehicles (NEVs), most of which are battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids, represented more than half of China’s personal vehicle market in the first half of April.
- The surpassing of the 50% mark in vehicle registrations in China came for the first time in the week of May 13-19 in a historic moment. The milestone means that NEVs are now mainstream in the country, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu claimed on Tuesday, citing official figures (our translation).
Details: BYD said its fifth-gen dual-mode (DM) hybrid technology features an integrated system that covers all aspects of thermal and energy management, comprising cooling modules for front-end body parts, batteries, and in-car infotainment software.
- China’s biggest EV manufacturer also announced a breakthrough among production vehicles for their gasoline engines worldwide, as its new PHEVs can potentially convert 46.06% of the thermal energy they produce during combustion into mechanical energy, indicating a more efficient performance than rivals’ offerings.
- The company said it has also managed to reduce the excessive energy consumed in extreme weather conditions and achieved fuel consumption of 2.9L/100 km with an empty battery on the new platform. This gives its Qin L and Seal 06 compact sedans a driving range of 2,100 km on a full tank and full charge.
- The Qin L sedan, first unveiled at this year’s Beijing Auto Show, measures 4.8 meters in length and spans a 2,790-millimeter-long wheelbase. It comes as a mid-range offering between the Qin Plus and the more premium Han under the Dynasty family that accounted for nearly half of BYD’s sales last year.
- The Qin L has a similar-sized sibling, the Seal 06 DM-I, which is characterized by a more sleek and sporty design to attract younger customers. Both models have five variants respectively, providing an all-electric driving range between 80 km and 120 km and are priced between RMB 99,800 and RMB 139,800.
Context: A growing number of automakers in China are pivoting their efforts to develop PHEV models, as BEVs remain on a slow growth trajectory. Sales of PHEVs, which include extended-range hybrids (EREVs) in China, surged 64.2% year-on-year in April, compared with the 12.1% growth rate achieved by BEVs, CPCA figures showed.
- A week earlier, Chery launched the Fulwin T9, a plug-in hybrid crossover with a similar price range to BYD’s Song Plus, while Dongfeng unveiled its latest answer to the popular crossover, the Aeolus L7, with an estimated 1,500 km of driving range.
- Geely and Changan sell PHEVs under their Galaxy and Deepal lineups, respectively, while international majors from Volkswagen to Toyota are reportedly accelerating their steps to introduce such offerings in China.
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