In a monumental announcement, BYD Co., Ltd. revealed that it will unveil its latest DM (Dual Mode) hybrid technology next week, which has the potential to extend vehicle range to 2,000 kilometers with a full tank of gas and a complete charge. The Chinese new energy vehicle maker made the announcement on Weibo today, stating that the fifth-generation DM technology will be launched on May 28.
At BYD’s Xi’an production facility in Shaanxi province, a monument commemorating the birthplace of the world’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle was revealed. The company outlined its intentions for advancing hybrid technology in its announcement alongside unveiling the monument.
BYD’s initial plug-in hybrid vehicle, the F3DM, was introduced in 2008 but has since been discontinued. The company began developing plug-in hybrid technology in 2004 and introduced its first-generation DM hybrid technology platform in 2008. However, Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD, announced during an investor conference on March 27 that they would transition to the fifth-generation DM model gradually in May, depending on market conditions.
Wang revealed that fuel consumption would decrease to 2.9 liters per 100 kilometers on a low charge while the vehicle’s range would extend up to 2,000 kilometers on a full charge and full tank of gas with the fifth-generation DM model. This is an exciting development for customers looking for longer lasting vehicles without sacrificing performance or efficiency.