Up to 125 kilometers of electric range
BYD only sells electric cars in the Netherlands. But no longer. It also brings a plug-in hybrid engine version of the BYD Seal U to our country.
The BYD Seal U, which has been available to order in the Netherlands since the beginning of this year, was until recently only available with electric drivetrains. In February this year, BYD pulled the curtain on the BYD Seal U DM-i on European soil. The DM-i – what it stands for Dual Mode Intelligence – is a plug-in hybrid variant with interesting specifications, but also one that BYD initially told AutoWeek would not come to the Netherlands. The importer is now backtracking on this. BYD is therefore no longer a brand in the Netherlands that only sells fully electric cars.
Twice front-wheel drive
The plug-in hybrid BYD Seal U DM-i is available with three different powertrains. Two of them are front-wheel drive: the Boost and Comfort. They have a 98 hp 1.5 four-cylinder and a 197 hp electric motor on the front axle. The system power: 218 hp and 300 Nm. From a standstill, this variant reaches 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds.
The big difference between the two? For that we have to go to the battery. The Boost version has an 18.3 kWh Blade Battery that gives the BYD Seal U DM-i an electric range of 80 kilometers. The Comfort version has a significantly larger battery on board. That is also a Blade Battery, but one with a capacity of 26.6 kWh. The BYD Seal U DM-i in Comfort trim can travel a lot further on electric power alone: ​​125 kilometers.
Once four-wheel drive
The top version is the BYD Seal U DM-i in Design version. That is the only engine version with two electric motors and therefore with four-wheel drive. In this engine version, the 1.5 petrol engine is more powerful with 131 hp. The electric motor on the front axle produces 204 hp, the one on the rear axle produces 163 hp. The system power is therefore a not childish 324 hp and 550 Nm. The plug-in hybrid BYD Seal U sprints from a standstill to a speed of 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.
The BYD Seal U DM-i Design does get the ‘small’ 18.3 kWh battery. This gives the four-wheel drive Design version an electric range of 70 kilometers. The four-wheel drive version can tow up to 1,300 kilos, the Boost and Comfort 750 kilos.
The batteries of every plug-in hybrid BYD Seal U DM-i can be charged with up to 18 kW (DC).
Equipment
Like many other BYD models, the Seal U DM-i is not sparsely equipped. Electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats are standard equipment, as well as artificial leather upholstery, a panoramic sliding/tilting roof and a head-up display. The Seal U DM-i has digital instruments and a rotating 15.6-inch infotainment screen.
There are no Dutch prices yet, they will follow in the second half of this year.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl