We’ve obtained spy shots of the upcoming BYD Han DM-i PHEV. Plug-in hybrids are popular in China these days, allowing drivers both cheap EV commutes and road trips without range anxiety. Seeing the demand for PHEVs, BYD has been refining its DM-i system to reach impressive efficiency.
Seen in near-naked form, the Han DM-i is
slightly different from the MIIT photos. In the MIIT photos, the DM-i rear
lights are identical to the EV version; On the spied prototype, the rear light
bar is cleaner- similar to the Aion S and many other Chinese sedans. Usually what
we see in the MIIT catalog is final, so it’s interesting to see design changes
so close to production.
Apart from the rear, the rest of the
design is in line with the catalog. To allow the 1.5T engine to breathe, BYD
gave the DM-i a large grille up front; tis’ the age of large intakes even for
tiny engines, so BYD is following the trend. The rest the design is very
similar to the BYD Han EV: some stronger lines but with good overall flow.
Now for the part that caught our
attention: under hybrid mode, fuel consumption is as low as 0.8L/100km! That’s an extremely impressive number for any car, let alone a big
sedan like the Han DM-i. Powered by a 102kW 1.5T engine and a 145kW electric
motor, expect a full range of 1,000km or more. Although we don’t know the
battery capacity, we know that BYD will use its Blade batteries on this
vehicle; we expect at least two battery capacities, given two range figures
(0.8L/100km, 1.4L/100km). Pricing of the Han DM-i is expected to be lower than
its EV cousin, which costs 220,000-280,000 RMB (34,500-44,000 USD).
