How do you convince skeptical drivers of the practicality of range extended EVs? For AC Mobility, the distributor of BYD cars in the Philippines, it’s by exceeding the range that even conventional combustion vehicles are capable of. Thus was born the 1000-km Sealion challenge, an effort to prove if not best the claimed 1000-km range of the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i on a full charge and full tank.
The recently launched BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) with a full EV range of 100-km (NEDC) from its 18.3kWh Blade Battery, when fully charged. It has a claimed range of 1,100-km in hybrid or extended mode when the electric powertrain and range extender work in tandem. Our challenge was to meet or exceed that claim in the real world with a drive to Ilocos and back in the Sealion 6 DM-i.
Roomy interior and amenities
With a car like the Sealion 6, we had no complaints. I started at the back seat, which offers lots of leg room for three occupants and has both USB A and C charging ports. Our Sealion 6 had comfortable two-tone leather seats. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allowed me to take charge of the music and navigation from the back seat and negated the need to fumble with a cable to the front, instead I was plugged in at the back. There were also rear aircon vents to add to rear occupant comfort. The panoramic sunroof when opened allows lots of natural light into the cabin and adds to the feeling of spaciousness.
Up front are the dual 15W wireless chargers and the infotainment system had a sizeable 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen. Apple CarPlay’s Waze map was huge in landscape mode. On this long drive, we enjoyed the Infinity 10-speaker audio system, which showed little to no distortion even at full volume.
The 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat allowed me to easily set a comfortable driving position, the front seats were also ventilated: perfect as seats tended to get hot when parked in the sun. The steering wheel is tilt/telescopic adjustable, and electric power steering made light work of things. The instrument cluster was fully digital and showed all information useful to the driver, drive mode, speed and instead of a tachometer, it showed kilowatts we were expending as we accelerated and when we lifted off the accelerator would show how many kilowatts we were regenerating. It was equipped with Dual Zone Auto-Climate control allowed for occupants to set their ac temp preference. The interior had a mix of leather and soft touch surfaces adding to a premium feel.
The challenge
For the challenge, our start point was at Seda Hotel next to Ayala Malls, Manila Bay. We loaded up our gear and long with my car mates, and a long convoy, we hit the road. We were to proceed up through NAIAX and to Skyway 3 to make our way to NLEX. The drive to our lunch venue at the Rosario roundabout at the end of TPLEX the roundabout was about 224 kilometers. It was a good 4 hours+ and 192 kilometers from Rosario to Vigan, and we had barely consumed about 1/3rd of our fuel.
On day 2, we drove through the Ilocos Norte Welcome Arch and on to the San Agustin Church in Paoay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, roughly 65.6 kilometers from our hotel. After lunch, we drove around and we clocked a further 68.5 kilometers on our drive back to our hotel in Vigan. As you would probably surmise, this was just an excuse to rack up more kilometers before we headed back to Manila the next day.
And as you would have guessed, we surpassed the claimed 1000 kilometers range. We had clocked 1,043 kilometers by the time we had stopped for a bathroom break at one of the gas stations along the NLEX and by that time we had about ¼ tank of gas and more than enough to get back to our start point which was a further 33 kilometers away at Ayala Malls Manila Bay via the Skyway 3 and NAIAX.
How did we do it?
The DM in DM-i stands for Dual Mode. It can work in EV Mode – where the vehicle is powered exclusively by the electric motor. There's HEV Mode – where the engine functions as a generator, charging the battery while the electric motor powers the wheels. This is what we used mostly to extend the range. Then there’s HEV Mode Parallel – the electric motor and engine work together to drive the vehicle.
With a charged battery, we would use EV Mode on the long stretches and in traffic to preserve our gasoline, as this would be where we would consume more fuel. When the battery level would drop to below 20%, we would then switch to HEV Mode where the engine would charge the battery and continued to drive. At the same time, the electric motor would work with the gasoline engine to reduce its workload especially when moving from a full stop or accelerating. We also used the Adaptive Cruise Control a lot, this ensured accurate throttle application to make sure we weren’t expending more fuel or discharging more battery energy than we needed to. When the battery would charge back up to 80%, we would then switch back to full EV Mode.
ADAS
The Sealion 6 is equipped with BYD’s DiPilot Advanced Driver Assistance Systems – 360 degree view camera system with See-Through Mode, 6 sensor radar system, Cruise Control – Stop & Go Full-Speed Adaptive and Inteligent, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking System, Front Collision Warning, Traffic Congestion Assistance, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Limit Information and Intelligent Speed Limit Control.
Impressions
The BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is a comfortable vehicle on the road. It’s just the right size: not too big, but big enough to fit four occupants comfortably and their luggage. It's loaded with all the modern safety and convenience amenities you’d need and it easily surpassed the 1,000 kilometer claim by BYD. Of course, good mileage also depends on your driving style to be able to squeeze out as many kilometers as you can from the battery and one tank of gas.
Priced at P1,548,000, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, is priced reasonably and comes with a 6-year or 150,000-kilometer bumper-to-bumper warranty, and an 8-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty for the battery.
“Completing the 1,000-kilometer media drive from Manila to Vigan showcases the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i’s remarkable electric capabilities and extended range. This route demonstrates the vehicle’s long-distance performance, handling, and efficiency, showcasing BYD’s commitment to progressing electric mobility and delivering exceptional driving experiences. The event underscores our dedication to leading the EV market with breakthrough sustainable technologies that benefit the Filipino,” said Bob Palanca, Managing Director of BYD Cars Philippines.