Can the Song DM Hybrid Run Without Ever Charging?
3 Answers
It is possible for the BYD Song DM to run without ever charging, relying solely on gasoline. However, for a plug-in hybrid vehicle, never charging and only using fuel means missing out on the advantages of its electric components. When driven solely by fuel, the BYD Song DM has a fuel consumption of 9.3L per 100 kilometers, which is acceptable for short urban trips. Below are some relevant details: 1. Exterior: The Song DM is a compact SUV with body dimensions similar to the Roewe eRX5 and slightly smaller than the BYD Tang. Its wheelbase is 2660mm, which is somewhat smaller than its competitors but sufficient for most people. The headlights continue the design of cold weapon-like shapes seen in the Dynasty series, while blue accents and LED daytime running lights enhance the technological feel of the lighting. 2. Interior: The interior design of the BYD Song DM is fairly conventional but has seen significant improvements in materials and craftsmanship. The use of soft-touch and metallic materials elevates the overall interior quality.
I recently had the chance to test drive my friend's Song DM specifically for this scenario. The car can indeed run without charging, but the battery level will drop into the forced power reserve zone, requiring the engine to constantly generate electricity to power the motor. As a result, fuel consumption was significantly higher than the official figures—reaching up to 8 liters per 100 km in city traffic with AC on, and the vehicle's power noticeably weakened. Prolonged usage in this state can accelerate battery degradation; my friend's battery health dropped by 5% during maintenance after six months without charging. The most troublesome part was attempting a sudden uphill climb in a depleted state—the engine roared like a tractor, causing my friend in the passenger seat to burst out laughing. The dealership technician advised doing at least two slow charges per month to maintain battery health and save on fuel costs.
You can certainly drive it as a gasoline car, but the experience is much worse. Last week, I drove my neighbor to the airport in his Song DM. He was too lazy to charge it and ran purely on gasoline. At startup, the electric motor couldn't provide any assistance, so it relied solely on the 1.5L engine to drag the car. I had to press the accelerator two-thirds of the way down just to barely keep up with taxis. The most uncomfortable part was the noticeable vibration at red lights, with the humming sound of the engine charging audible inside the car. When exiting the highway ramp, I tried switching to EV mode, but the battery was too low to make the switch. The fuel consumption showed 7.9L, and my neighbor even muttered that it was more fuel-efficient than his old X-Trail. Then he noticed the tire pressure warning light was on—it turned out the system is overly sensitive in a low-battery state, and the tire pressure was actually fine.
