The two new models can also travel up to 74 miles (120 km) on electric power alone
10 hours ago
- The firm’s latest plug-in hybrid includes an ultra-efficient 1.5-liter petrol engine and two available electric motors.
- BYD says its new engine has a thermal efficiency of 46.06%, the highest of any production car.
- Prices for the Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i start at just $13,750.
BYD has launched its fifth-generation plug-in hybrid powertrain in China, which allows a vehicle to travel 1,304 miles (2,100 km) without stopping.
The carmaker’s new DM (Dual Mode) system premiered in the Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i. It combines a 1.5-liter petrol engine with 99 hp (74 kW) and 93 lb-ft (126 Nm) of torque, with either a 161 hp / 155 lb-ft (120 kW / 210 Nm) electric motor or a 215 hp / 192 lb-ft (160 kW / 260 Nm) motor, depending on specification. The system is also sold with 10.08 kWh and 15.78 kWh battery packs and also features a more traditional 12-volt lithium-iron phosphate battery.
Read: BYD’s Upcoming Plug-In Hybrid MPV Caught Testing With Shredded Camo And Missing Bodywork
The new 1.5-liter engine at the heart of the new plug-in hybrid powertrain has a thermal efficiency of 46.06%, which BYD says makes it the most thermally efficient combustion engine of any production car. It features plenty of trick tech to achieve this efficiency, including what the company describes as intelligent combustion, variable lubrication, and split cooling systems.
Prior to this, Toyota is thought to have had the most thermally efficient production engine at roughly 41%. This means that 41% of the work being done by the engine is converted into power while the remaining 59% is lost as heat. Ultra-efficient Formula 1 engines operate at around 50% thermal efficiency.
Seal 06 DM-i / Autohome
Improvements have also been made to the Blade battery packs offered. The carmaker says the battery offers 15.5% more energy density. AC charging has also been upgraded from 3.3 kW to 6.6 kW, and on a DC charger, the system can charge from 30-80% in 21 minutes.
The result of all the improvements to BYD‘s new plug-in hybrid powertrain translates into a fuel economy of just 2.9 l/100 km (124 U.S. MPG) and a driving range of over 1,300 miles (2,100 km) without needing to refuel or recharge. Models with the 10.08 kWh battery can travel 50 miles (80 km) on electric power, while those with the 15.78 kWh battery have an electric range of 74 miles (120 km).
Remarkably, the Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i, featuring this new plug-in powertrain, don’t break the bank. Prices for the new Qin L DM-i and the Seal 06 DM-i start at just 99,800 yuan (~$13,750) and top out at 139,800 yuan (~$19,300).