BYD further improves fifth-generation DM hybrid tech with fuel consumption lowered to 2.6L/100km

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 5, BYD announced a significant upgrade to its fifth-generation DM (Dual Mode) hybrid technology, achieving a new benchmark in fuel efficiency. Under NEDC conditions, the system's fuel consumption in low battery state has been reduced by another 10%, reaching just 2.6L per 100 kilometers.

The new figure has been certified by the National Automobile Quality Inspection and Testing Center (Guangdong), said BYD.

BYD originally unveiled its fifth-generation DM hybrid technology on May 28, 2024, with a then-groundbreaking figure of 2.9L/100km, ushering in what the company dubbed the "2-liter era" of PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) fuel consumption. Since then, BYD has pushed its hardware—engine, electric drive system, and domain control units—to peak efficiency. Further gains, it noted, would have to come not from hardware alone but from breakthroughs in the coordination between software and hardware.

According to BYD, three pillars underpin this latest evolution. First is the scale of data. Since launching the fifth-generation DM technology, the company has sold over 1.5 million vehicles powered by the technology, generating 2.8 billion kilometers of driving data per month—spanning more than 1.8 million real-world driving conditions.

Second is the use of large AI models. BYD has developed AI systems specifically for both the engine and the electric drive components, using them to optimize hybrid control strategies.

Third is refinement at scale. These AI models are trained across over 1.8 million operating conditions, allowing for precise fuel-saving strategies tailored to each scenario.

Take the Qin L DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i as examples—both capable of traveling 2,100 kilometers on a full tank and full battery. With the latest efficiency improvements, the vehicles now save an additional 0.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, adding up to 6.3 liters saved over the full range. Based on current fuel prices for 92-octane gasoline in China (roughly 7 to 8 yuan per liter), that equates to a cost reduction of 40 to 50 yuan per full tank.

BYD also confirmed that the upgraded fuel efficiency strategy will be rolled out via over-the-air (OTA) updates to all vehicles equipped with its fifth-generation DM hybrid system, ensuring existing owners benefit from the improvements without needing a hardware upgrade.