BYD, the leading Chinese maker of new energy vehicles (NEVs), introduced its all-electric Seal to European consumers at the IAA Mobility event in Munich earlier this month. The D-segment sedan follows the continental launch of the Han E-segment sedan, Tang E-segment SUV, Atto 3 C-segment SUV, and Dolphin C-segment hatchback. Employing BYD’s new “Ocean Aesthetics” design language, the Seal features several technological highlights including CTB (cell-to-body) construction, Blade battery, and an 8-in-1 electric powertrain.

Like the Atto 3 and Dolphin, the Seal is based on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 designed for pure-electric vehicles with CTB technology for “unprecedented” levels of safety, torsional rigidity, driving dynamics, and space utilization. CTB incorporates the battery with the vehicle, integrating the pack’s top cover with the body floor, Blade battery, and tray in a sandwich using a high-strength honeycomb-like aluminum panel structure.

The CTB structure contributes to the Seal’s torsional stiffness of 40,500 N·m/degree. With a height of only 110 mm (4.3 in) for the battery pack, it improves space utilization by lowering the vehicle floor by about 15 mm (0.6 in), creating more interior space, and enabling a lower, sleeker body shape with improved aerodynamic performance. Overall vehicle dimensions are a 4800-mm (189.0-in) length, 1875-mm (73.8-in) width, and 1460-mm (57.5-in) height.

The Seal is the second European model in the company’s range to adopt the Ocean Aesthetics design language after the Dolphin. Its design team, led by BYD Global Design Director Wolfgang Egger, features “X-face styling” and a drag coefficient of just 0.219 Cd enabled by a low front, sloping A-pillar, rounded roof, sloping fastback, upturned ducktail, and flush door handles.

 

Blade battery and 8-in-1 electric powertrain

Like all of its European passenger cars, the Seal is equipped as standard with a Blade battery that is the result of more than two decades of BYD research and development. The battery pack consists of 172 thin elongated blade-like cells using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) as a cathode material for “a higher level of safety and durability” compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries. It supports V2L (vehicle-to-load), allowing the Seal to be used as a portable power supply for electrical devices with a total output of up to 3 kW.

BYD says that its LFP batteries are 100% free of cobalt, whose mining causes ethical and environmental concerns. The battery tech has better thermal stability and is less sensitive to temperature fluctuations. it can withstand more charge and discharge cycles with “hardly any” loss of capacity for better durability. The company demonstrated the Blade Battery’s safety in a video exceeding the requirements of the punishing nail-penetration test, which can simulate battery thermal runaway and the consequences of a serious road accident.

A standard high-efficiency heat pump system allows for efficient regulation of the battery and passenger compartment temperature via direct cooling and heating of the refrigerant with low energy consumption. It can absorb and transfer waste heat from the electric powertrain and withstand temperatures ranging from -30°C to +60°C (-22°F to +140°F).

For propulsion charging, control, and management, BYD integrates 8 key components—VCU, BMS, MCU, PDU, DC-DC controller, on-board charger, drive motor, and transmission—to produce what it calls the world’s first mass-produced 8-in-1 electric powertrain system, greatly optimizing space utilization and energy efficiency.

 

Range, performance, and driving dynamics

The Seal will be offered with a choice of two drivetrains, both with a battery capacity of 82.5 kW·h.

The single-motor rear-wheel-drive Design version has a power output of 230 kW for 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 5.9 s. The range is 570 km (354 mi) on the WLTP combined cycle. The four-wheel-drive Excellence-AWD has 160 kW front and 230 kW rear motors for 390 kW total and 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 s. WLTP range is 520 km (323 mi) combined.

The Seal offers four distinct driving modes. Eco prioritizes energy efficiency and extends driving range. Normal provides a balanced driving experience for everyday use. Sport mode emphasizes performance through aggressive acceleration and sharper handling. Snow is designed to enhance traction and stability on slippery surfaces.

An 11-kW three-phase AC onboard charger is standard. A high-voltage charging solution uses the motor inductor to meet the 420-750 V voltage range of charging stations with high-power DC charging while reducing heat generation. At a DC fast-charging station with 150 kW, the battery can be charged from 30% to 80% in 26 min.

Contributing to vehicle handling and control are the high torsional rigidity, low center of gravity, and  BYD’s first fully independent suspension with double wishbones front and five-link rear.

The Excellence-AWD offers variable dampers with firmer damping on smooth roads for more stable vehicle dynamics and better handling and softer damping for rough surfaces for a higher quality ride. Depending on the driver’s horizontal and vertical control needs, the model’s Intelligent Torque Adaption Control system (iTAC) reduces power output, shifts or reduces torque, and uses other control methods to improve vehicle stability, safety, driving comfort, and handling limits.

 

CTB benefits

Despite the car’s low-slung styling, the CTB architecture and compact battery packaging are said to give occupants plenty of headroom. The four-door sedan is said to comfortably seat five people, with a 2920-mm (115.0-in) wheelbase providing occupants with legroom similar to that of an executive saloon.

Storage is handled by a 400-L (14.1-ft³) luggage compartment and 53-L (1.9-ft³) frunk. More than 20 interior spaces provide storage for small items including a front sub-dash console for wireless charging of two mobile phones, a center armrest box, and a semi-open storage space under the sub-dash.

Other interior features are a driver’s seat electrically adjustable in eight directions, an oversized panoramic sunroof, front doors with double-layered laminated glass for sound and heat insulation, and rear doors with privacy glass.

The Seal is equipped with 4G connectivity and over-the-air updates for infotainment features. User interface highlights are a 10.25-in full instrument LCD panel, a 15.6-in rotatable screen equipped with intelligent voice control activated by “Hey BYD,” and smartphone integration via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

An extensive range of safety and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features is standard. This includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, lane keeping and changing assist, and emergency lane keeping. There is also intelligent cruise control, a 360-degree panoramic camera, hill descent control, and intelligent speed limit information and control.

 

The first European dealer deliveries of the Seal will be in Q4 2023, with end-user customer deliveries from November. Starting MSRP ranges in the UK from the Design’s £44,990 to the Excellence-AWD’s £47,990, with a six-year manufacturer’s warranty and eight years for the battery and electric motor. Full specifications will be released nearer the market launch in early Q4.