![\"BYD](\"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/byds-next-gen-hybrids-set-to-redefine-electric-range-and-charging-speed.jpg\" "\\"BYD")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n The DM-i powertrain of the current BYD Seal U offers 77 miles of electric-only running<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Chinese giant’s new wave of hybrids will have 60% greater capacity to run on electricity and charge at over 150kW<\/p>\n
\nBYD<\/a> is priming a range of new plug-in hybrids<\/a> with some 200km (124 miles) of electric-only range and the ability to rapid-charge at speeds of more than 150kW.<\/p>\n
Due within \u201cthe next one to two years\u201d, this new generation of PHEVs from the Chinese giant\u00a0(badged DM-i)\u00a0will have substantially greater capacity to operate as EVs than their rivals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At present, the longest electric range of any PHEV on the UK market is 88 miles, offered by the Volkswagen Golf eHybrid<\/a>, while the best from BYD is 77 miles, offered by the Seal U<\/a> \u2013 which can be charged at only 18kW.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur target is really to have people in daily use using the EV [mode], but then if they want long distance, given a chance to charge, they have the freedom to go to anything,\u201d said BYD\u2019s executive vice-president, Stella Li.<\/p>\n
The current DM-i system combines BYD’s Blade Battery technology<\/a> with\u00a0its\u00a0Xiaoyun<\/span> petrol engine, which was\u00a0designed\u00a0specifically for PHEV use and is claimed to have\u00a0world-leading thermal efficiency.<\/p>\n
BYD’s special advisor for Europe, Alfredo Altavilla, explained that the development is coming as \u201cPHEV has become the new battleground\u201d for manufacturers, \u201cbecause everybody is shooting for a revision of the so-called green deal that will open up markets also beyond 2035\u201d.<\/p>\n
Altavilla believes the company\u00a0is best positioned to capitalise on the widespread relaxation of EV legislation because \u201cwe truly don’t see anybody having technology close to the DM-i\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have just 35-45km [22-28 miles] of range as an EV, you’re fundamentally an internal combustion engine with a plug,\u201d he said. \u201cThat’s the reason why a lot of manufacturers are now trying to come closer to our plug-in hybrid technology with the range-extender.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those manufacturers include Ford<\/a>, Leapmotor<\/a>, Lotus<\/a> and Volkswagen<\/a>. Increasingly popular in China, range-extender (REx) cars are essentially EVs with an on-board energy generator in the form of a small petrol combustion engine.<\/p>\n
Leapmotor\u2019s overseas boss recently told Autocar that REx cars are a \u201cgood interim solution\u201d for Europe and better than PHEVs because, as the propulsion is always handled by an electric motor, \u201cthe engine is always operating in the most efficient way\u201d<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Altavilla<\/span> countered that PHEVs are \u201cdefinitely superior\u201d than REx cars because \u201cyou can have three different ways of using the car; it’s your decision, depending on how much power you need from the engine, [whereas] the REx is always behaving in one way\u201d.<\/p>\n