BYD unveils India’s first range extender platform

While we auto scribes have gotten over our anxiety and see the advantages of battery electric vehicles, clearly there are still enough out there who continue to suffer range anxiety for BYD to have sensed an opportunity, a white space. The brand today unveiled a new platform that aims to combine the best of what an EV delivers but without any accompanying range anxiety. Christened the Dual Mode-Intelligent (DM-i), this hybrid platform will debut as a complete vehicle later this year.

"The introduction of DM-i technology marks a pivotal step in our commitment to making sustainable mobility more versatile and accessible for Indian consumers. By enabling electric-first driving for daily use while seamlessly supporting long-distance travel, DM-i addresses some of the most pressing barriers to the adoption of sustainable motoring in India,” said Rajeev Chauhan, Head of Electric Passenger Vehicle Business, BYD India, adding, “With this innovation, we are bringing a new technology to Indian consumers, and also shaping a smarter, more flexible pathway towards sustainable transportation."

Essentially, the platform uses 2 electric motors working in conjunction with a 1.5-litre high efficiency Xiaoyun petrol engine with an incredibly high thermal efficiency of 43.04 per cent. While in most available hybrids, it is the battery powered electric motors that supplement a conventional internal combustion engine, in the DM-i platform, the electric motors are the primary source of propulsion with the petrol engine mostly working as a range extender, charging the BYD’s Blade battery pack when it is down to less than 25 per cent.

The vehicle is designed to switch seamlessly, which is the “intelligent” part of this platform, between EV only mode to a hybrid Series mode and a Parallel mode, depending on usage. A majority of the time the platform, which does not have any need for a conventional gearbox, runs on EV only mode. Over long distances, the engine switches on automatically to act as a generator, charging the battery and extending its range. In situations that demand a sudden power spike, like an overtake on a highway or a steep incline that has to be negotiated, the system uses a Parallel mode where in both the electric motors as well as the petrol engine power the wheels to provide the boost needed.

Together, BYD is claiming a range of 1,200km on a single tank of petrol and a fully charged battery. It sounds impressive enough. However, the platform is likely to debut in the form of the Seal U SUV, which comes with a 60-litre petrol tank. Overseas the Seal U DM-i is available with two battery options – an 18.3kWh that offers a range of 70-80km and a larger 26.6kWh battery offering a range of upto 125km on electric propulsion only. Depending on which battery is being used, that equates to a fuel economy of just under 18-19kmpl. Which is par for the course for a modern IC engine.

BYD however is not seeking to address fuel economy questions. Rather, with this platform, it is offering a viable alternative for the fence sitting consumer who has been enamoured by the techy glitz of an EV but has not been able to get past range anxiety. What this platform does is address that concern. Add to that the fact that you can also plug this platform in to the grid and charge the battery means that depending on how well someone plans his or her journey, they could very well be looking at very few trips to the petrol pump.

With this entirely new proposition (for India), the DM-i platform will play a key role in BYD’s growth plans in 2026, says the company. Not only will it enable portfolio expansion but will also strengthen BYD's position in the market as a provider of new energy vehicle solutions.