China’s leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD unveiled its latest, fifth-generation dual mode (DM) plug-in hybrid drivetrain system this week which it claims can offer a driving range of up to 2,100 km – posing a significant threat to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
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At a launch event held this week in the city of Xi’an in Shaanxi province, BYD confirmed the driving range was calculated based on vehicles with a fully charged high-capacity battery and a full tank of petrol, with vehicles tested consuming as little as 2.9 litres per 100 km. The technology prioritises the use of battery power over petrol consumption.
BYD unveiled two new models equipped with its latest plug-in hybrid technology, the Qin L DM-i and the Seal 06 DM-I, which it says consume just one-third of the fuel needed by traditional ICE vehicles while offering three times the range. Prices for models fitted with the new drivetrains start at just under CNY140,000 (US$19,400).
BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu said he is confident his company can lead the global automotive industry in the development of low-emission/low consumption plug-in hybrid technologies.
BYD has sold more than 3.6 million plug-in hybrids to-date, with volumes rising by 29% to 388,000 units in the first four months of 2024. The company ceased production of ICE vehicles in 2022 to focus exclusively on battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
