How Electric Vehicles Fare in Standstill Traffic: A Deep Dive with the BYD Seal

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been gaining traction for their efficiency and sustainability, but questions still linger about their performance in less-than-ideal conditions, such as prolonged standstill traffic. We took the BYD Seal Premium on a unique journey from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu on a single charge during Raya eve, sparking discussions about EV efficiency during traffic jams. To address these curiosities, we conducted an experiment to see how an EV, specifically the BYD Seal, manages its battery life when idle, especially under the harsh conditions of a traffic jam.

Key Takeaways:

• EVs, like the BYD Seal Premium, consume minimal energy during standstill conditions.
• The BYD Seal's battery only dropped 5% after being idle for an hour under hot conditions with the air conditioning running.
• Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability allows the BYD Seal to power appliances with minimal battery impact.
• The experiment demonstrates the potential of EVs to idle for extended periods without significant battery depletion.

Starting with a 47% charge, we parked the BYD Seal under the sweltering sun, with temperatures hitting 36 degrees Celsius. To simulate the car's energy consumption during a standstill, we left the air conditioning on for an hour. Despite the heat and the car's glass roof—which could potentially increase the cabin temperature—the battery's decrease was surprisingly minimal.

The air conditioning and the car's electronics drew about 3kW of power, translating to roughly 3kWh of energy. To push the boundaries further, we engaged the BYD Seal's V2L feature, powering a 20-minute air fryer session and boiling water for coffee. This activity only used an additional 1.2kWh, bringing the total energy consumption to about 4.2kWh.

After an hour, the battery percentage stood at 42%, a mere 5% decrease. This outcome suggests that, in extremely hot weather conditions and with V2L usage, the BYD Seal could potentially idle for over 20 hours. Without V2L, and depending on the air conditioning's power draw, this duration could extend significantly, demonstrating that EVs like the BYD Seal are more than capable of handling long periods of idleness without major battery drain.

Furthermore, during slow, bumper-to-bumper traffic, the BYD Seal's energy consumption is minimal, with less than 10kW needed to move the car slowly. The vehicle's regenerative braking system also plays a crucial role in energy efficiency, helping to recoup energy back into the battery during slowdowns.

Conclusion

The experiment with the BYD Seal Premium dispels the myth that EVs quickly run out of battery in standstill traffic. On the contrary, EVs demonstrate remarkable efficiency and resilience, even in challenging conditions. With advancements in EV technology and features like V2L, electric vehicles like the BYD Seal are proving to be versatile and reliable companions on the road, capable of facing traffic jams without the fear of running out of juice.

(First reported by: Our Experiments, Date)