Does the DM-i Hybrid System Require Charging?
3 Answers
BYD's Super Hybrid Technology DM-i does require charging. Here are the relevant details: 1. Functionality: During driving, BYD vehicles rely on high-power electric motors for propulsion. The gasoline engine primarily functions to charge the battery, engaging in direct drive only when additional power is needed, and even then, it works in tandem with the electric motor to reduce load. This hybrid technology differs from traditional hybrid systems that depend heavily on the engine, thereby achieving more effective fuel efficiency. 2. System Composition: The EHS dual-motor system, DM-i Super Hybrid-specific Blade Battery, along with a series of vehicle control systems, engine control systems, motor control systems, and battery management systems, collectively form the Super Hybrid System. Most importantly, all these core components and key technologies are entirely independently developed by BYD.
I've been using the DM-i hybrid for almost two years now, and honestly, I've hardly ever charged it intentionally. The car has an engine power generation function, and for daily commuting, it automatically operates in intelligent battery maintenance mode, with fuel consumption more than 50% lower than conventional gasoline cars. Once, I forgot to charge it before a business trip and drove over 500 kilometers round trip solely on gasoline, and it performed just as stably. Of course, the experience is even better with charging available—using pure electric mode for commuting means no fuel consumption at all, and the engine noise disappears. But it's true that there's no situation where the car won't run without charging. The biggest advantage of this system is the absence of range anxiety, unlike pure electric vehicles that require constant attention to charging stations.
The DM-i hybrid system was originally designed to address the pain points of charging, with the fuel tank acting as its "power bank." The system intelligently allocates energy through the EHS hybrid system, operating on pure electric power for 60% of driving conditions, while the engine only works within its efficient range and simultaneously generates electricity. My colleague, who lives in an old residential area without charging access, has been driving it purely as a fuel-powered car for over half a year, with a fuel consumption of only about 4.5L in depleted battery mode. An interesting observation is that the battery maintains a reserve of around 15%, allowing electric drive to kick in during traffic light starts, while the engine quietly charges during stops—completely seamless to the daily driving experience.
