BYD Seal vs NIO ET5: charging cost, time & specs in China
A side-by-side comparison of the BYD Seal and NIO ET5 for buyers in China: battery, charging speed, realistic range and what each costs to charge at home and at a public DC station.
Specifications side by side
Units
| Specification | BYD Seal | NIO ET5 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable battery capacity | 80.6 kWh (best) | 70.5 kWh |
| DC fast-charge power (peak) | 230 kW (best) | 180 kW |
| Real 10-80% DC time | 15 minutes (best) | 16 minutes |
| AC charge power (onboard) | 11 kW (best) | 11 kW (best) |
| Manufacturer-claimed range | 650 km (CLTC) (best) | 585 km (CLTC) |
| Realistic range estimate | 520 km (best) | 468 km |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | LFP |
10-80% times without a measured figure are estimates assuming constant charging power.
Charging cost comparison
| Scenario | BYD Seal | NIO ET5 |
|---|---|---|
| At home (AC) 20% → 80% | ¥29.02 | ¥25.38 (best) |
| Public DC 20% → 80% | ¥87.05 | ¥76.14 (best) |
Key differences
- BYD Seal carries the bigger battery (80.6 kWh vs 70.5 kWh), about 14% more capacity.
- BYD Seal charges faster on DC (50 kW higher peak, ultra-fast DC vs ultra-fast DC).
- BYD Seal drives farther, about 52 km more on a realistic range basis.
- Both use LFP batteries, so their charging behaviour and care are similar.
What the numbers say
- Faster to 80%: BYD Seal (about 2 minutes ahead of NIO ET5).
- Goes further on a charge: BYD Seal (about 52 km more than NIO ET5, realistic).
- Cheaper to charge at home: NIO ET5 (about ¥3.64 less than BYD Seal).
- Cheaper at a public DC charger: NIO ET5 (about ¥10.91 less than BYD Seal).
As of 2026-06-03
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to charge, the BYD Seal or the NIO ET5?
- At a public DC charger (20-80%), the NIO ET5 is the cheaper of the two at about ¥76.14.
Which charges faster, the BYD Seal or the NIO ET5?
- The BYD Seal reaches 80% sooner, taking about 15 minutes on DC fast charging.
What is a BEV, and how is it different from an EV, PHEV, and HEV?
- EV (electric vehicle) is an umbrella term for any vehicle driven by an electric motor. A BEV (battery electric vehicle) is a fully electric car powered entirely by its battery and charged from the electricity grid, with no petrol engine. This is the type this calculator is built for. A PHEV (plug-in hybrid) pairs a petrol engine with a battery you can charge from the grid. An HEV is an ordinary hybrid that can't be plugged in; its battery recharges itself while you drive. There are also FCEVs, which run on hydrogen fuel cells. This calculator is for cars you charge from the grid (BEVs, and PHEVs in electric mode), so ordinary hybrids like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid or Nissan Kicks e-Power aren't included.