The two new models can travel up to 74 miles (120 km) on electric power alone.
by Brad Anderson
May 29, 2024 08:30
- The company's latest plug-in hybrid is equipped with an ultra-efficient 1.5-liter gasoline engine and two electric motors.
- BYD says its new engine has a thermal efficiency of 46.06 percent, the highest among mass-produced vehicles.
- Pricing for the Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i starts at just $13,750.
BYD has launched its fifth-generation plug-in hybrid powertrain in China, which allows the vehicle to travel 1,304 miles (2,100 km) without stopping.
The automaker's new DM (Dual Mode) system made its debut in the Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i. It pairs a 1.5-liter gasoline engine producing 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 the specification. The system is also sold with 10.08 kWh and 15.78 kWh battery packs, as well as a more conventional 12-volt lithium iron phosphate battery.
Read: BYD's upcoming plug-in hybrid MPV spotted testing with torn camouflage and missing bodywork
The new 1.5-liter engine that is the heart of the new plug-in hybrid powertrain has a thermal efficiency of 46.06 percent, which BYD claims makes it the most thermally efficient combustion engine in a production vehicle. To achieve this efficiency, the car employs a number of trick technologies, including what the company calls intelligent combustion, variable lubrication and a split cooling system.
To date, Toyota is believed to have the most thermally efficient production engine ever, boasting a thermal efficiency of around 41%. This means that 41% of the work the engine does is converted into power, with the remaining 59% lost as heat. Ultra-efficient F1 engines operate at around 50% thermal efficiency.
Seal 06 DM-i / Autohome
There have also been improvements to the Blade battery pack on offer: the automaker says the battery's energy density has increased by 15.5 percent. AC charging has also been upgraded from 3.3 kW to 6.6 kW, and the DC charger can charge from 30 to 80 percent in 21 minutes.
All the refinements made to BYD's new plug-in hybrid powertrain result in fuel economy of just 2.9 l/100 km (124 US MPG) and a driving range of more than 1,300 miles (2,100 km) without the need to refuel or recharge. Models with a 10.08 kWh battery can travel 50 miles (80 km) on electric power, while models with a 15.78 kWh battery have an electric range of 74 miles (120 km).
Surprisingly, the Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i with this new plug-in powertrain aren't all that expensive: Prices for the new Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i start at just 99,800 yuan (about $13,750) and go all the way up to 139,800 yuan (about $19,300).
