BYD has surpassed 7.7 million plug-in hybrid vehicles produced, cementing its position as the world’s largest PHEV manufacturer. The milestone traces back to the 2008 Geneva Motor Show debut of the F3DM — the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid car. The company now prepares to expand its UK lineup with the ATTO 2 DM-i compact SUV in May.
Highlights
- BYD has produced more than 7.7 million plug-in hybrid vehicles since launching the F3DM in 2008.
- The ATTO 2 DM-i will join the UK range in May, offering up to 56 miles of electric range and 621 miles of total range.
- BYD’s 1.5-litre Xiaoyun engine achieves 43% thermal efficiency, operating primarily as a generator in daily driving.
- The SEAL 6 DM-i delivers up to 935 miles of total range, the highest in BYD’s current UK PHEV lineup.
How DM-i Technology Works
BYD’s Dual Mode intelligent (DM-i) system reverses the typical PHEV powertrain hierarchy. Rather than relying on the combustion engine as the primary drive source, the system defaults to electric propulsion. The 1.5-litre Xiaoyun petrol engine primarily functions as a generator.
The system operates across three modes:
- EV Mode: Fully electric drive, used predominantly in urban conditions.
- HEV Series Mode: The Xiaoyun engine generates electricity to charge the battery while the electric motor drives the wheels.
- HEV Parallel Mode: Under high power demand, the petrol engine connects directly to the wheels to supplement the electric motor.
This architecture allows many real-world journeys to be completed with zero tailpipe emissions. BYD’s Blade Battery underpins the system with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. The company says the battery can withstand its Nail Penetration Test, indicating strong thermal stability. All DM-i models also support Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality.
ATTO 2 DM-i Joins UK Lineup
The ATTO 2 DM-i targets the compact SUV segment with up to 56 miles of electric-only range and 621 miles of total range under WLTP testing. BYD says the model features DC fast charging capable of replenishing the battery from 30% to 80% in 26 minutes. Standard equipment includes V2L technology, integrated Google connectivity, and a driver assistance suite.
For context, the original F3DM offered 37 miles of electric range and required more than seven hours for a full charge. The ATTO 2 represents 18 years of iterative improvement in battery capacity and charging speed.
Current UK PHEV Range
BYD currently offers several DM-i models in the UK market, each targeting a different segment:
- SEALION 5 DM-i: Starts at £29,995 with up to 631 miles total range and 53 miles electric range.
- SEAL 6 DM-i: Available as a saloon or Touring estate with up to 935 miles total range. The Touring variant offers 1,535 litres of boot capacity with rear seats folded. It earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating with 92% for adult occupant protection.
- SEAL U DM-i: Large family SUV with total range from 671 miles (Boost, 18.3 kWh battery) to 699 miles (Comfort, 26.6 kWh battery). Output ranges from 218 PS to 323 PS in the all-wheel-drive Design version.
BYD also plans to launch the Shark 6 pickup truck with DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) technology later this year.
BYD’s Scale Advantage
BYD employs more than 110,000 engineers and operates across 112 countries. The company says it generates an average of 45 patents per working day. Founded in 1995 with 20 employees, BYD has expanded from battery manufacturing into automotive, electronics, renewable energy, and rail transport.
Sign up for our popular daily email to catch all the latest EV news!
