BYD Sealion 6 DM-i loses BEV classification from DOE, reclassified as PHEV
Not long ago, we reported that the Nissan Kicks e-Power was reclassified by the Department of Energy (DOE) as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) from its previous Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) classification. This came after the government agency revised its EV classification guidelines.
READ: DOE revises classifications and guidelines on electrified vehicles
The Japanese subcompact crossover is not the only model to receive a reclassification, recently joined by the popular BYD Sealion 6 DM-i which has also been reclassified, this time from a BEV to a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), as it should be.
For a quick recap, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is powered by the combination of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 97 horsepower and 135 Nm of torque, and an electric motor that makes 197 horsepower and 325 Nm of torque. Combined power and torque figures are at 217 horsepower and 325 Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels by both the engine and motor, depending on what’s needed.
Under the DOE’s Revised EV Recognition Guidelines, through Department Circular (DC) No. DC2025-09-0015 which went into effect last September 20, 2025, the Sealion 6 DM-i can no longer be classified as a BEV as its powertrain still includes a fueled power source to charge its battery, and still has tailpipe emissions. BEVs are required to only have a traction battery as a power source.
But what does this mean for current and future owners? The BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is after all one of the most popular electrified models in our market today.
It’s not clear as of this writing whether PHEVs are considered as a BEV or HEV by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), but there is a possibility that owners may no longer be able to enjoy the 30% discount on registration renewal fees for BEVs once the time comes. Instead, a 15% discount, similar to HEVs, may apply with it being a PHEV. The same also goes for initial registration.
Just like the Nissan Kicks e-Power though, we can expect prices to remain the same as PHEVs enjoy the same tax breaks as BEVs, with import duties at zero since the move was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in 2024.
One minor detail will also be the change in license plate numbers, specifically the letter portion, as BEVs and PHEVs/HEVs have their own unique letter combinations to set them apart from each other. BEV license plates have A to M as their second letters, while HEV license plates have N to Z for their second letters.
Will this change in classification affect your decision to buy a BYD Sealion 6 DM-i?
