On Tuesday, China’s BYD launched its latest plug-in hybrid technology, boasting a record low fuel consumption of just 2.9 litres per 100 km (62.1 miles) on depleted batteries.
BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu revealed the new tech at an event in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province, where BYD’s first car factory is located. The company acquired this factory in 2003 by purchasing Qinchuan Automobile Co.
This new technology allows a vehicle to travel more than 2,000 kilometers on a full battery and gasoline tank.
BYD’s previous generation of plug-in hybrid technology, offering a driving range of several kilometers on batteries and consuming 3.8 litres of fuel per 100 km on the gasoline engine alone, has driven the company’s rapid growth since 2021. Popular models with this tech include the Qin Plus DM-i sedan and Song Plug DM-i SUV.
In the past three years, plug-in hybrids priced from 79,800 yuan ($11,011) have been a significant part of BYD’s sales, with a total of 3.6 million such cars sold.
