As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East persist, China's domestic refined oil prices are set for another round of increases. Multiple institutions predict that on March 23rd at 24:00, the price of 92-octane gasoline is expected to rise by 1.6 yuan per liter, pushing prices in most regions of the country back into the "9 yuan era." This means filling up a fuel tank will cost nearly 100 yuan more than before. Faced with soaring fuel prices, owners of traditional fuel vehicles are lamenting the increased costs, while owners of BYD's plug-in hybrid models appear notably unfazed—because the answer from BYD's fifth-generation DM technology is clear: it can run on either fuel or electricity, delivering savings regardless of the driving mode.

For daily commuting, BYD's large-battery DM-i models offer a solution of "electric freedom." Models like the 2026 Qin PLUS DM-i have increased their CLTC pure electric range to 210 km, directly entering the 80,000-yuan market segment. This means that, based on an average daily commute of 30 km, a single charge can cover a full week's travel needs. For users with home charging stations, the electricity cost is only 0.5 yuan per kWh, resulting in annual energy costs of less than 4,000 yuan. In comparison, fuel consumption for similar-class traditional vehicles generally averages 7.5L/100km. With fuel priced at 9 yuan per liter, the annual cost for 20,000 km of driving would exceed 13,000 yuan. This alone allows plug-in hybrid owners to save nearly 10,000 yuan annually.

For scenarios where using fuel is necessary, BYD also provides an efficient solution. After an OTA update, the fuel consumption in hybrid mode has been optimized to 2.6L/100km, setting a new global low for plug-in hybrid fuel efficiency. This means that even when driving in charge-sustaining mode, the fuel cost per kilometer is only about 0.23 yuan. More impressively, the combined range on a full tank and full charge can exceed 2,148 km, representing a significant improvement in overall endurance. For example, the Qin L DM-i can travel from Beijing to Shanghai on a single tank without needing to refuel or recharge midway. Such range performance minimizes the impact of fluctuating fuel prices on daily travel.

The core advantage of BYD's plug-in hybrid technology lies not in relying solely on electricity or fuel, but in the dual flexibility of "using either fuel or electricity as needed": - When charging is convenient, using all-electric mode offers low costs of just a few cents per kilometer. - When pressed for time or traveling long distances, hybrid mode provides worry-free efficiency with ultra-low fuel consumption of 2.6L/100km. - If charging stations have long queues, drivers can opt for fuel; if fuel prices are too high, they can switch to charging—either choice remains economical.

As fuel prices return to the 9 yuan era, BYD's plug-in hybrid technology, with its flexible "fuel or electric" capability, offers users a confident and cost-effective solution.