Here’s how BYD is preparing you to go electric

The Chinese manufacturer BYD has unveiled a plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U SUV at the Geneva Motor Show.

At BYD, they certainly prefer to do things differently! For a “normal” automaker, the usual approach is that the transition to all-electric vehicles involves starting with mild hybrids. You first add a small 48V mild hybrid system to avoid emission taxes and to promote your environmentally friendly transition efforts—saving the planet, trees, and our children. Then you move on to plug-in hybrids, which are much more complex to fit into a chassis originally designed for internal combustion engines. But there’s a paradigm shift: drivers can now operate in zero-emission mode for several kilometers, from city centers to highways. With a bit of luck, drivers will realize that electric vehicles suit their lifestyles perfectly and will make the switch.

And well, at BYD, after launching 5 electric models, they now offer a hybrid. To convert drivers to internal combustion? Of course not. The goal is simply to attract customers still wary of all-electric vehicles by checking this “discovery” box that was missing until now. It’s also an honest acknowledgment that full electric isn’t suitable for everyone yet, and sometimes a versatile hybrid is better than a poorly used internal combustion or electric vehicle.

High-Value Hybrid

The BYD Seal U has a very similar design to the Seal sedan, but in SUV format. Exactly what Tesla did to create the Model Y based on the Model 3. The success of both models validates the concept. Its dimensions make it a direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y, with a length of 4,775 mm, width of 1,890 mm, height of 1,670 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,765 mm. The rear bench folds down 60/40 to increase the generous trunk space from 552 liters to 1,440 liters.

This vehicle is known elsewhere as BYD Song Plus DM-i. “DM” for Dual Mode, or two propulsion modes, and “i”… well, nobody’s quite sure. It features a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine complemented by an electric motor to produce a combined power of 197 hp. BYD also has a turbocharged version of this engine in development that could boost the power to 230 hp.

The main strength of this model is, of course, its Blade battery, which promises record-breaking range for a plug-in hybrid and particularly short charging times. We will have to wait a little longer to know the technical details and the pricing of the model.

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