Chinese carmaker BYD has showcased its proprietary ‘DM-i Super Plug-in Hybrid EV’ tech in India. The BYD Seal U will be the first model to get this new ultra-efficient PHEV system in India by the end of this year, expanding the carmaker’s lineup beyond electric-only models.
- DM-i PHEV can deliver a combined range of over 1200km
- Can be run on EV-only mode for up to 200km
- BYD claims the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine has world’s best thermal efficiency
BYD DM-i Super Plug-in Hybrid EV: what is it?
As with most PHEV setups, BYD’s DM-i Super Plug-in Hybrid EV tech comprises both a battery-motor combination and a combustion engine, with the powertrain prioritising an electric-first approach.
It comprises a 1.5-litre direct injection, turbo-petrol engine, dual electric motors and an 18.3kWh battery. BYD claims a world’s best thermal efficiency of 43.04 percent for this hybrid powertrain, and it is said to use 4.8-litres of petrol per 100km. Meanwhile, the electric motors are claimed to have a 97.5 percent efficiency. Together, BYD claims, the powertrain can deliver over 1,200km of driving range.
When the battery is fully charged, it can be driven in full EV mode, in which it can go a distance of up to 200km. In most regular driving conditions, however, the vehicle is primarily driven by the electric motors, with the petrol engine acting as a starter-generator to keep the Blade battery replenished, much like a range-extender unit in a series hybrid system. It’s only during high power loads that the petrol engine directly powers the wheels.
What’s interesting is that the system automatically shuffles between pure EV, series hybrid and parallel hybrid modes, eliminating the need for the driver to manually change modes. Like many EVs, this PHEV system also supports V2L capabilities, which means the powertrain can also power other electrical appliances.
BYD Seal U: what is it?
As mentioned earlier, the first model to get the new DM-i PHEV powertrain will be the Seal U SUV. It’s also called the Sealion 6 in certain markets, and has even made an appearance in India previously at the Auto Expo 2025.
The Seal U is a Mahindra-XEV 9e-sized 5-seater SUV, measuring 4,775mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,670mm tall, and has a 2,765mm wheelbase. Internationally, it is sold in both FWD and AWD configurations. Depending on the configuration, it can produce up to 323hp and 550Nm of torque. BYD claims an electric-only range of up to 126km for the Seal U, and it can sprint from a standstill to 100kph in 5.9 seconds. The India-bound model is expected to have different specs.
Incidentally, the Seal U looks very similar to the Sealion 7 EV that’s already on sale in India, except that the former gets a functional grille up front. Like the Sealion 7, the Seal U also gets BYD’s ocean-inspired aesthetics inside and out. Some equipment highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, vegan leather upholstery, an Infinity premium sound system, ADAS suite, 360-degree cameras and the brand’s signature 15.6-inch rotatable infotainment system.
When the BYD Seal U arrives by the end of this year, it can be expected to be priced around Rs 45-50 lakh (ex-showroom). At that price, the Seal U is expected to see competition from JSW Motor’s upcoming Jetour T2 PHEV SUV, which is also expected to arrive by the end of the year.