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BYD sealion 7 RWD actual range exceeding stated WLTP range

Affectionate-Risk912 | 2025-12-10 16:42 | 44 views

I bought a sealion 7 RWD around a month back and have been tracking my energy usage. I am surprised that I am consistently averaging AEC of 14-15kw/ 100km. Infact in some routes I have achieved as good as 12.8kw/100km. I drive with standard regen and normal mode (tried eco mode it gave worse range). Most of the journey is at 50-60 km/hr. Some journey at 20-30 km/hr. Traffic is not much. I was reading other threads and almost all claimed poor energy efficiency. Has anyone else had similar experience as mine? Am I hitting the sweet spot with regards to speed?

Comments (25)
InevitableNew440 2025-12-10 16:49

Yes you are. For me, even with air con on, 13.5kWh/100km is a reasonable average on a 70kmh congested drive home.

Affectionate-Risk912 2025-12-10 16:53

Ah interesting. So i guess 50-70 kmh is the ideal speed for optimum range. Must appreciate BYD. Their WLTP range is realistic and in fact can be exceeded with right speed and driving style

Panklas 2025-12-10 17:53

Tests also shows the car exceeds WLTP. But its build like a lego brick, so the wind drag grows exponential by the speed, so at highway speed it would achieve something like 28kwh/100 in winter. I have the excellence and I often utilize my 550hp and I achieve around 18-19 kWh/100km. But keeping a constant speed and not accelerating too much is the key to good efficiency.

mhummel 2025-12-10 20:26

We have an Atto3 (extended range) with a WLTP figure of ~150 Wh/km for a stated range of 480km. The dealer straight out said that range is overstated. However, on recent suburban trips, I've managed to get that down to 100 Wh/km, essentially by using "hypermiler" techniques. ie gentle acceleration uphill; greater acceleration downhill; approaching roundabouts with the right speed to traverse without braking; etc. There's a bit of luck involved as well, but the WLTP figure isn't as fantastical as I expected. Naturally highway usage is much higher.

Affectionate-Risk912 2025-12-10 21:09

Interesting technique that you talk about. Though why greater acceleration during downhill? Wouldn't taking the foot off the accelerator be more efficient in downhill?

Hillbilly555 2025-12-10 21:15

That seems fair for what you described. I do very short trips in mine and so have more acceleration vs a longer drive. With that I tend to average the claimed WLTP score. So including longer drives I would except to get this down

mhummel 2025-12-10 21:21

Two reasons: 1) Regenerative braking kicks in and kills your momentum; 2) You want to build your speed sufficiently to be able to coast up the next hill. Accelerating on the downhill uses less power because of gravity.

randomOldFella 2025-12-10 21:52

We've had our SL7 for 2 months. We'vedriven, about 4000km highway (100 to 110km/h) and 500km in town. Currently 18.3kWh/100km cumulative. But calculating its range from charging history, we're getting about 450km per full charge. That's way lower than the WLTP of 550km. I must admit, I'm disappointed by that.

Affectionate-Risk912 2025-12-10 21:58

I guess your highway driving is killing the range. BYD range calculation assumes a mix where city driving is the higher part. Do you have experience with any other EV which gives better energy efficiency in highway?

randomOldFella 2025-12-10 22:28

I've heard reviews of other EVs with better highway efficiency, but haven't experienced it. On the other hand, 2400km of that has been free energy, so I'm a bit dumb for complaining!

SexyDraenei 2025-12-10 23:31

> BYD range calculation assumes a mix all the standard test protocols do. thats why people don't get the claimed range because they only test it on a roadtrip. The wikipedia article on WLTP goes into a good amount of detail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Harmonised_Light_Vehicles_Test_Procedure

Hammm89 2025-12-10 23:52

https://preview.redd.it/x8ya6i5urg6g1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60848d63a656e3dd9a9154d5d8e2aea87b6a7343 SL7 RWD, Singapore, 12.6kWh/100km cumulative AEC. Basically exceeded the quoted 480km WLTP and I easily get 600+km range full charge. In my previous [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/BYD/s/Y408tQ6m7y) I explained how I got this, but TLDR is it really depends on 2 factors: a) your right foot and b) your country's climate. Flooring the accelerator = bad efficiency, weather too hot/cold = bad efficiency.

Affectionate-Risk912 2025-12-11 01:10

This is amazing. I guess Singapore must have silky smooth roads which helps too. I have managed to clock around 12.5 on certain routes. However my drive involves going through gravel roads and potholes from time to time. That is sure to eat up some range I guess. My cumulative AEC is around 15

[deleted] 2025-12-11 03:40

I do 15kwh for 550km

[deleted] 2025-12-11 03:41

awd performance?

normundsr 2025-12-11 05:30

You should all probably mention the outside air temperature, since it's a huge factor in consumption. Here in Latvia the EV consumption can vary between 12kWh/100 to 28kWh/100 between summer and winter. Also of course city vs highway.

Affectionate-Risk912 2025-12-11 05:34

Good point on the temperature. Current temperature for me is ranging between 18-27 degrees Celsius.

Hammm89 2025-12-11 06:18

Singapore roads are generally better than other SEA countries, but it doesn’t mean all roads here are silky smooth. Some areas *cough*Thomson Rd*cough* have road works that never seem to end and the road there is pretty ass. Cumulative 15 AEC is actually pretty good. Anyway electricity here is pretty cheap so 1 or 2 kWh difference in AEC is not gonna cost much $.

Icefeldt 2025-12-11 08:01

"Gentle acceleration uphill" is also what I thought until 3 days ago. Then I read articles about the "optimal load of electric motors" which all state that 75%-90% is the most effective/economic load range for an electric motor. Therefore "hard accelerating with 75-90%" should be even more economic.

randomOldFella 2025-12-11 22:34

Nope. We got the premium model. AWD used even more kWh/100 according to BYD's specs.

[deleted] 2025-12-12 03:57

wltp in Australia for premium is 482km

mhummel 2025-12-12 12:36

Interesting. Do you have links to those articles handy? I wonder if there's a difference between what's best for the motor and what's best for economy? e.g. If you're coasting downhill or cruising, the motor's only drawing a few kW at most. Unless there's a difference between what the motor is drawing vs the power it's actually producing? But surely power produced should be proportional to power consumption? (ie because of direct drive and minimal gearing). I suspect that variables like gravity, terrain and traffic are confounding factors that interfere with optimal driving....

Icefeldt 2025-12-12 17:47

Sorry can't find the links any more. But if you are interested, just research for yourself if "What a stranger on the internet says, is really true!" ;)

tamboerke 2025-12-12 22:07

Wow! 12.6. I am driving (cold conditions now 5-10 deg. Celcius) in the Netherlands but with an average of 22 kWh. Will try normal mode for the next week. So far only in eco mode and high regen.

supersabroso 2026-03-05 00:06

You're doing well, the WLTP is only 482km for the Premium. That's mixed driving, for your driving where it's 90% highway, you're doing really well to achieve 450km/charge. EV database tested that it can achieve 385km (21.4kWh/100km) on the highway in mild weather with no air-conditioner and 610km in the city (13.5kWh/100km).

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