BYD India, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker BYD, the world’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, has showcased its DM-i (Dual Mode Intelligent) technology in India. This will be the underpinning of the BYD Seal U DM-i SUV that is set to be introduced in the Indian market later this year. The DM-i technology is among the latest in sustainable mobility solutions from the company that allows versatility, efficiency, long-range and practicality by offering a claimed combined range of more than 1,200km.
Even though it is the biggest electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle maker in the world, BYD has been going quite slow in India in terms of sales volumes. Its products are in the approximately ₹25 lakh to ₹55 lakh price range and include the BYD Sealion 7, BYD eMax 7, BYD Atto 3 and BYD Seal. It has so far reached about 14,000 customers, it says although it has a network of 48 showrooms across 40 cities.
Interestingly, BYD’s Blade Battery, an advanced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery designed for superior safety, longevity, and thermal stability, addressing key consumer concerns around EV adoption, is being used by other Indian EV makers in their vehicles. Abroad, the BYD Seal U DM-i design-version utilises a four wheel-drive configuration with two high-power electric motors (front and rear) and an 18.3kWh BYD Blade Battery, along with the petrol engine. Front-wheel powered versions, Boost and Comfort, are offered with the 1.5-litre hybrid engine and a 18.3kWh (Boost) or 26.6kWh (Comfort) BYD Blade Battery.
The BYD Seal U DM-i, as is evident is a plug-in hybrid vehicle, or PHEV, that is expected to cost somewhere around the price of the Seal and the Sealion 7, that is around ₹50 lakh. And it is interesting that BYD is going for a PHEV rather than another battery electric vehicle (BEV) like it has till now. That is probably because it thinks a PHEV might be a more suitable vehicle for India at this stage of its creation of supporting charging infrastructure where it can be a little uncertain beyond cities.
The DM-i acts as a bridge between conventional engine vehicles and pure BEV. It differs from traditional hybrids in its very driving philosophy. Traditional hybrids are engine-first, with the petrol engine as the primary source and the batteries acting as the assist. BYD’s DM-i reverses this system and is electric-first. In terms of underlying principle, it is similar to Honda’s eHEV techonology that it has been offering in the City sedan and also works in a somewhat similar way.
This DM-i ensures the car runs primarily on battery power for most usage. This approach allows a significant portion of everyday journeys to be completed in pure electric mode under real-world driving conditions. The engine in DM-i is capable of functioning as a silent spectator or as a generator charging the battery while electricity powers the wheels. It is also capable of completely taking over propulsion duties to support the electric motor, adapting to the situation, demand and energy reserves.
An important part of this technology is the highly efficient 1.5-litre Xiaoyun petrol engine, which has an Atkinson cycle with a thermal efficiency of 43.04 per cent, among the higher ones for petrol engines. Working in tandem with one or more high-speed electric motors depending on requirement, the system intelligently switches between multiple operating modes to optimise performance and efficiency:
•EV Mode: Delivers 100 per cent electric drive, primarily suited for urban and daily commuting scenarios.
•HEV ‘Series’ Mode: In this mode, the Xiaoyun engine functions as a generator, charging the battery while the electric motor powers the wheels — retaining the smooth, refined feel of an electric vehicle. This ensures the vehicle continues generating electricity while also providing propulsion to the vehicle.
•HEV ‘Parallel’ Mode: During higher power demands, the petrol engine directly provides propulsion to the wheels, supporting the electric motor.
With these three modes available, the DM-i tech should take care of range anxiety while delivering a BEV-like driving experience most of the time. Long-distance travel should be easier with reduced dependency on charging infrastructure. Meanwhile, acceleration will be quicker than petrol with the torque coming in early, fuel consumption per 100km under NEDC condition is 4.8 litres. DM-i technology will play a central role in BYD’s broader 2026 roadmap for India and enable portfolio expansion in the NEV space.