Range anxiety—it’s something that a lot of EV owners regularly deal with and the one thing that EV naysayers keep using as a reason they still aren’t buying an electric vehicle.
But there’s no escaping electrification. It’s where the automotive industry and the world is headed, and it’s inevitable. Which is why motorists should start making the transition sooner rather than later. This is where hybrids come in.
Hybrids offer a safer middle ground of sorts for skeptical owners who have the means to go electric but still opt not to. These hybrid vehicles have been growing in popularity in our market over the past few years. Now, a known EV brand is looking to enter that space: BYD with the all-new Sealion 6.
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The BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is an interesting proposition. Similar to Nissan’s hybrid tech, the Sealion 6 DM-i is mainly driven by its electric motors and thus offers an EV-like feel on the road and behind the wheel. But unlike that—and the hybrids from Toyota and Honda—it’s still a self-charging hybrid with the option to be plugged in. But a PHEV? Not quite.
A typical PHEV uses up its electric charge and switches completely to the internal combustion engine as a means of propulsion when the batteries are depleted. The Sealion 6 DM-i constantly uses electric propulsion, utilizing its gasoline fuel only to keep charging its battery and maintain a charge of about 20-80%. The electric motor alone can do 100km or so with a single charge—with the help of the gasoline engine which acts as the range extender, the range with a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas goes over 1,000km.
Prior to the launch, we were able to take the all-new BYD Sealion 6 DM-i for a quick spin. Without further ado, we’ll leave you with our very own Leandre Grecia to share his insights and first impressions on this new hybrid. Click play on the embedded video below to learn more.
