BYD Wins Japan's Annual EV Award Again with Seal

【PCauto】On February 28, at the third annual Japan EV of the Year Awards, the BYD Seal EV successfully defended its title with a dominant score of 325 points, far surpassing its competitors. For example, the Nissan Leaf secured second place with 205 points, while the Toyota bZ4X came in third with 180 points. Following the victory of the Dolphin EV last year, BYD has now achieved a two-year consecutive win.

The Japan EV of the Year award holds significant authority and influence in the Japanese new energy vehicle sector. The award was established with the intention of encouraging automakers to increase their research and development investments in electric vehicles (EVs) and to drive the development of the domestic EV market in Japan.

The BYD Seal EV officially entered the Japanese market in June 2023, offering both rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive versions. In the highly competitive Japanese EV market, the Seal EV’s success is no accident. From a design perspective, it adopts a "marine biomimicry" design language, creating smooth body lines. With a length, width, and height of 4870×1875×1460mm and a wheelbase of 2920mm, the car achieves an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.219Cd, while also meeting Japanese consumers' demands for interior space. This design, which balances aesthetics and practicality, received widespread praise in both public voting and industry voting.

In terms of performance, the Seal EV demonstrates strong capabilities. It comes standard with an 82.56kWh Blade Battery pack. The all-wheel-drive version is equipped with dual motors, delivering a power output of 490kW, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, with a CLTC range of up to 600 km. The rear-wheel-drive version has a single motor with a power output of 230kW, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, and offering a CLTC range of up to 650 km, with the base version having a range of 510 km.

Such performance and range provide reliable assurance for users, whether for urban commuting or long-distance travel. Additionally, the car supports 800V high-voltage fast charging, with the 30%-80% charge taking just 20 minutes.

It is worth noting that the Seal EV is built on the BYD e-Platform 3.0evo, which offers significant advantages in core technology. All versions are equipped with Sic silicon carbide, an 800V high-voltage platform, and a twelve-in-one electric powertrain. The Blade Battery uses innovative CTP (cell-to-pack) technology, integrating the battery cells directly into the battery pack, eliminating the module step and significantly increasing energy density, which reaches 140Wh/kg, while its safety performance is at an industry-leading level.

Regarding intelligent features, the 2025 Seal EV may become BYD’s first sedan to be equipped with LiDAR (Laser Radar). It is also equipped with BYD's self-developed advanced driver assistance system, which enables L2+ level autonomous driving functionality. Features such as high-level intelligent driving and city navigation make driving easier and safer. According to Japanese media tests, the L2+ intelligent driving system took over 58% fewer times in complex road conditions in Nagoya compared to competitors, clearly demonstrating the reliability of its intelligent driving system.

From a market perspective, BYD's investments and plans in the Japanese market are gradually being implemented. Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD's Asia Pacific Automotive Sales Division and President of BYD Japan, stated that from now on, BYD will launch new models in Japan every year, covering pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

This year, BYD plans to introduce its first plug-in hybrid vehicle in Japan, continuously expanding its product line to meet the diverse needs of consumers. Currently, BYD has established 17 direct-sale stores in Japan, and its market share is expected to reach the top position among Chinese brands in 2024, with its brand influence steadily increasing. The repeated victory of the Seal EV at the Japan EV of the Year Awards will undoubtedly further help BYD break through the defense line of domestic Japanese brands. Industry insiders predict that BYD’s sales in Japan could exceed 15,000 vehicles by 2025.