Chinese Tesla rival BYD says its new hybrid cars can go 1,250 miles without stopping for gas or charging

BYD Seal 06 on display at the Beijing Auto Show
The BYD Seal 06 will be one of two models to get the new hybrid technology, which the EV maker says can enable a vehicle to travel more than 1,000 miles without stopping to charge or refuel.
  • BYD says its new hybrid powertrain system can drive 1,250 miles without refueling or recharging.
  • That's nearly twice the range of some rival hybrids in the US.
  • Hybrid popularity has surged as EVs remain expensive and largely unprofitable. 

1,250 miles without stopping to fill up? That's a pipe dream for any car on the market right now, whether it's powered by gas or electricity. 

But Chinese EV maker BYD says it can happen thanks to upgrades in its new hybrid powertrain system, which will launch on two recently revealed midsize sedans, Bloomberg reported. It's the equivalent of about 81 miles per gallon, more than three times the US fuel economy average for model-year 2022 cars. It's also about 500 more miles of range than a hybrid 2023 Lexus ES, which last year topped Kelley Blue Book's list of longest-range hybrids.

A leap this big in hybrid technology would boost an already fervent interest in these cars, with their impressive fuel economies, lower upfront costs, and mitigated range anxiety. The models are wildly popular with both automakers and consumers as a bridge between traditional ICE engines and fully electric models, especially as EV sales plateau in many markets. 

In BYD's case, hybrids make up a majority of its models sold, Reuters reported.

Toyota, a relative latecomer to EVs with a plethora of hybrid options, has seen its strategy vindicated by this softening of the market. Ford said in April that it would expand its hybrid offerings as the segment helped cushion EV losses. GM also plans to bring more hybrid models to North America in response to changing demand. 

Just don't expect to buy a BYD car in the US anytime soon. 

Read the original article on Business Insider


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