- MG first to bring REEVs
- BYD’s implementation is cost-effective
If there are two brands that have spearheaded the NEV development in India, they are BYD and MG Motor. Thanks to these two brands, and even Chery as an honourable mention, we have come to know what mass-premium plug-in hybrids are. However, Chery has not officially showcased this tech here, and JSW Motors is yet to go official in India. Both BYD and MG have taken this approach. How do they differ? Let's find out.
BYD DM-i (Dual-Mode intelligent)
This technology utilises two motors - generator and traction. The generator motor comes into play when the battery is at critically low charge levels. This motor is not connected to the engine. The traction motor is predominantly powered by the battery, enabling an EV-first drive experience. This technology enables the following driving modes:
- EV Mode: Battery solely powers the traction motor.
- Series Mode: Engine powers the generator motor to charge the battery, and the traction motor continues to source power from the battery.
- Parallel Mode: Engine and battery power the traction motor together for maximum power.
- Power Split Mode: Engine powers the traction and the generator motor. This ensures that the battery is charged on the move, so that the car can return to series/parallel modes when the battery is sufficiently charged.
DM-i is essentially a plug-in hybrid technology. This means it’s a petrol vehicle that you will tank up and also charge like an EV. The Seal U DM-i will be the first to implement this technology, and it will launch by the end of the current calendar year.
MG ADAPT (Advance Drive Architecture Platform Technology)
Like BYD’s DM-i, this tech is also like a plug-in hybrid with dedicated modes:
- EV-only: Battery powers the traction motor.
- Series hybrid: Engine powers the battery via the generator motor, and the battery powers the traction motor.
- Parallel hybrid: Both the engine and the battery power the traction motor.
- Engine direct drive: Engine powers the traction motor.
On paper, both are similar. But MG has gone a step further by introducing an REEV (Range Extender EV). In principle, it is the same as a plug-in hybrid, but it always runs on series mode when the state of charge of the battery is low. The engine is of a relatively small capacity, and it never connnects to the traction motor. The engine is solely used to power the battery, which powers the traction motor.
MG has also planned to implement an electromagnetic DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) system, which relies on electromagnetic couplers/clutches to switch between modes. As opposed to conventional DHTs, it enables a smoother transition between hybrid modes, and causes lesser wear. On the flipside, it warrants more complexities in software, and it is more expensive compared to a conventional DHT.
MG has planned to launch an EV and a PHEV this year. No REEV plans have been announced yet.
Both PHEVs and REEVs have large batteries and petrol tanks. They differ in functionality, where the latter has an engine that never connects to the traction motor.
