2025 BYD Han on 800 volts with lower starting price in China

BYD has launched an updated version of its flagship sedan. For 2025, the Han gets a new, fifth-generation hybrid system, a LiDAR option for the first time, and an 800-volt architecture for the electric variant.

BYD also takes this mid-life refresh as an opportunity to lower the starting price to 165,800 yuan or around €21,000. However, that’s only for the entry-level plug-in hybrid powertrain and the Chinese market. The EV variant retails starting at 179,800 yuan (€22,831)

5^th-gen PHEV

The BYD Han continues in the same path as previously, being available with either plug-in hybrid or electric powertrains. The updated model now features BYD’s fifth-generation DM hybrid technology (DM-i), which combines a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo gasoline engine with an electric motor.

According to the brand, thermal efficiency has increased, thus resulting in a lower fuel consumption of 3.8 l/100 km (Chinese homologation). The Han DM-i now gets to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, but more importantly, all versions feature a 125 km electric range (CLTC).

800-volt EV

This is good news, but it is only for the Chinese market. In Europe, the BYD Han is only available with an electric powertrain. BYD has not yet said whether other markets will benefit from this upgrade, but there’s good news to look forward to.

All electric versions of the BYD Han, except the entry-level FWD one, now get an 800-volt onboard system with the brand’s LFP Blade battery. Depending on the battery (60,5 kWh, 72 kWh, or 84,5 kWh), the range varies from 506 to 701 km on the ever so hopeful Chinese homologation standard (CLTC), and fast charging has been enhanced.

The Han EV now gets to 80% charge in 30 minutes. This is better than before but still lower than most of its competitors.

2% cheaper

In addition to those technical upgrades, the BYD Han is also available with a new LiDAR option. That hump on the roof is combined with the Nvidia Orin-X electronics platform to offer urban and highway driving assistance.

There are also new 10-point massaging front seats, a larger 15.6-inch touchscreen for the infotainment, and, chiefly, BYD’s DiSus-C adaptive damping suspension.

Unsatisfied with these upgrades, BYD also lowers its prices to better compete with recent models, such as the Xiaomi SU7. The EV variant is available in China from 179,800 yuan (€22,831), whereas the entry-level PHEV drops by 2% to 165,800 yuan (€21,089).

This price drop is only reserved for the Chinese market. With Europe’s import tariffs on Chinese cars, it’s unlikely that any BYD model that will be taxed 17.4% on top of the regular 10% import tax will be that affordable on the Old Continent…