11 hours ago, Pib said:

Curiosity questions: when ITAC turns itself off/driver did not turn it off (like with the A/C preconditioning/seat ventilation talked above) does it eventually turn itself back on when needed? Or, once turned off (either automatically or manually) it stays off until "manually" turned back on again?

I've never seen it turn on by itself. But I've seen it turn off.

This cars needs an update to fix this, iTAC should always stay on unless we manually switch it off.

I did a lot of fast charging in my Seal because Rever gave me 30,000 THB charging credit and I used 2/3rds of it.

I came to the conclusion that I could turn on the air con remotely fairly reliably, but turning on the seat ventilation made the car do weird things, IIRC it turned on the car ready to drive, unfolded the mirrors I think too. Ultimately, I worked out that the badly worded message that came up when turning on the air con was actually a warning that it wasn't cooling the battery as effectively as before and after that preferred not to sit in the car watching Netflix whilst fast charging.

2 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I did a lot of fast charging in my Seal because Rever gave me 30,000 THB charging credit and I used 2/3rds of it.

I came to the conclusion that I could turn on the air con remotely fairly reliably, but turning on the seat ventilation made the car do weird things, IIRC it turned on the car ready to drive, unfolded the mirrors I think too. Ultimately, I worked out that the badly worded message that came up when turning on the air con was actually a warning that it wasn't cooling the battery as effectively as before and after that preferred not to sit in the car watching Netflix whilst fast charging.

I do remote start the air conditioning on my Seal quite often and about a year ago, after a car or app update it would only start the air and not the car itself.

I took this to be some sort of safety measure, albeit without any info on reason, or just a glitch, wasn’t sure.

Later on I learned that by starting air remotely then opening the seat ventilation via the app also the car would also start ( lights flash and wing mirrors pop out as had done originally ).

I figured it was unnecessary to start the car but recently have learned ( haven’t actually checked it ) that if you start the car as well as air conditioning via app then the front vents will open to improve air flow and accelerate the air conditioning/circulation.

I have recently started enabling the seat ventilation after remotely starting air con via the app but if it does actually improve air con performance i couldn’t say.

All in all it is a strange situation and the app needs some reconfiguration to make people aware of this action or add a tip message.

Just opening the front vents upon starting the air conditioning remotely would make life simpler and in theory improve air conditioning performance without having the motor running/lights flashing/wing mirrors popping out unnecessarily.

On 3/7/2026 at 10:42 AM, Andrew Dwyer said:

without having the motor running

You still live in the ICE age - literally and figuratively speaking........ the motors in an electric car could only run if you were on jacks

45 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

You still live in the ICE age - literally and figuratively speaking........ the motors in an electric car could only run if you were on jacks

Pretty sure you understood what i meant.

On 2/20/2026 at 9:10 AM, Andrew Dwyer said:

I guess that is the big question

The Seal’s sales took a nosedive in mid 2025 and dealers started offering the Activity cars ( Test drive and publicity cars, usually 2023 models ) at a healthy discount.

Reported lack of stock all pointed to a clear out to either make way for the rapidly rising Sealion 7 or an updated Seal, a MY 2025 version started to appear in some countries ( Malaysia and Aus ? ) with new wheels and an electric sunshade amongst other small upgrades.

Then towards the end of 2025 Thailand Seal sales started to increase again but probably received stock from countries getting the MY 2025 updated models.

Currently I think stock of Seals in Thailand is almost diminished with only a few of the cheaper model Dynamic remaining in dealers showrooms and being pushed on FB pages.

The Seal in its current Thailand variant is unlikely to reappear and i also think any upgraded model, as being offered to the U.K., is also unlikely to head this way, Thailand has cut its ties with the Seal and if a minor update had been on the cards it would have been filtered in gradually.

BYD is focusing on the future and the Seal, as exciting as it was ( and still is) when first released hesitated at the fence and lost momentum here.

Lovers of a BYD sporty saloon might be surprised with a Sealion 9 or 10 who knows ? there is always IM 5 or 7X GT to tempt.

The EV world is moving at such a fast rate now that it makes you cautious to sign up when something faster, cheaper, rangier (?) and more exciting might be just round the corner.

Never been a “ speed freak “ and at touching 65 am looking more towards comfort than blistering acceleration but the Seal showed me what is available for my budget and i LIKED it !

The Seal is dead …… Long live the Seal 🦭

The Electric Viking is saying the Seal is being replaced by the just released Seal 07 (not Sealion 7, but Seal 07). He says it will be sold in China and "export/international" markets."

1 hour ago, Pib said:

The Electric Viking is saying the Seal is being replaced by the just released Seal 07 (not Sealion 7, but Seal 07). He says it will be sold in China and "export/international" markets."

Yeah I saw this before, would have preferred to see more range by keeping the 82.5 kw battery but in blade 2 form.

Using a higher density ( blade 2 ) but then reducing the size ( 82.5 to 69 kw ) and ending up with around the same range doesn’t make sense to me.

The higher charging rate is welcome but only if we see new high speed chargers appearing, currently I can get 150 kWh from a Spark 180 kw charger, albeit for a short time.

With all these stories of the minor updated Seal, Seal 07 and Seal 08 will have to wait to see what actually, if an, becomes available here.

Some reports coming from the U.K. about the MY 2026 Seal and how owners are feeling its a step backwards from the 23/25 version.

Lack of flexibility on the instrument cluster means you are now stuck with this layout, no option to adjust.

Or dark mode.

No rotating main screen ( some might not care but i use it in portrait for navigation ), seems like BYD will drop this feature for future cars.

Crappier wheels, their words not mine.

Apparently running the Sealion 7 software so i guess will have the updated UI but they got that on the Seal in the U.K. anyway.

Hi All, hoping for a pointer or two. Next week I'm getting a one-month hire car for a trip up to Isaan over Songkran, a Seal Hybrid, and haven't a clue what to expect. But given the fuel supply issues, I am at least hopeful that the limited driving under battery option will prove useful. Can anyone see any problems with charging the battery using domestic power supply? The nearest Type 2 charging facility will be about 25km away. Anything else stand out as a potential problem for a newbie like me? Thanks...

1 hour ago, DodgerRodger said:

Can anyone see any problems with charging the battery using domestic power supply?

When you pick the car up make sure that BYD Portable Charger is actually included. If so I don't see any problems.

20 hours ago, DodgerRodger said:

Hi All, hoping for a pointer or two. Next week I'm getting a one-month hire car for a trip up to Isaan over Songkran, a Seal Hybrid, and haven't a clue what to expect. But given the fuel supply issues, I am at least hopeful that the limited driving under battery option will prove useful. Can anyone see any problems with charging the battery using domestic power supply? The nearest Type 2 charging facility will be about 25km away. Anything else stand out as a potential problem for a newbie like me? Thanks...

Most importantly - don't call it a hybrid....... the plugin hybrid EV - PHEV in short - has next to nothing in common with a regular hybrid.

As for driving the PHEV - do not use the engine to charge the battery, it is extremely inefficient. Drive it either in electric mode, or in ICE mode, to get the most energy back of what you put in the car.

The hybrid part always works in the background, and there are ways to maximize what you can harvest during regular driving: use the the brakes as little as possible and as gently as possible. Presumably the Seal PHEV is also using brake blending, this driving style will maximize the feeding of regen-braking energy back into the battery.

On 3/29/2026 at 10:58 AM, mistral53 said:

Most importantly - don't call it a hybrid....... the plugin hybrid EV - PHEV in short - has next to nothing in common with a regular hybrid.

As for driving the PHEV - do not use the engine to charge the battery, it is extremely inefficient. Drive it either in electric mode, or in ICE mode, to get the most energy back of what you put in the car.

The hybrid part always works in the background, and there are ways to maximize what you can harvest during regular driving: use the the brakes as little as possible and as gently as possible. Presumably the Seal PHEV is also using brake blending, this driving style will maximize the feeding of regen-braking energy back into the battery.

Magic, that's a very helpful analysis. I'll do the long bits on ICE (HEV?) mode and use the battery (EV mode) for short trips up to 50-60 km out and back. Thanks to you and @Bandersnatch for the help.

Breaking news, my BYD isn't gonna happen, it's being replaced with a Nissan Kicks E-Power 😵‍💫

26 minutes ago, DodgerRodger said:

Breaking news, my BYD isn't gonna happen, it's being replaced with a Nissan Kicks E-Power 😵‍💫

I recommend you check out Nissan’s financials, S&P rates their credit as junk, and they are largely expected to go bust in the next two years.

36 minutes ago, DodgerRodger said:

Breaking news, my BYD isn't gonna happen, it's being replaced with a Nissan Kicks E-Power 😵‍💫

Well, that does away with needing to plug into a charger somewhere....instead, burn petrol to recharge the battery.

Specs for the REEV

https://www.nissan.co.th/vehicles/new-vehicles/kicks-epower/specifications.html#grade-70053-0|specs

54 minutes ago, DodgerRodger said:

Breaking news, my BYD isn't gonna happen, it's being replaced with a Nissan Kicks E-Power 😵‍💫

Purely on technology and running costs, the Kicks is the worst possible solution.

You cannot benefit from electricity being 5 times cheaper than gas, you have to burn gas to generate electricity and you have to do that for every kilometer you drive.

Seriously, go back to the BYD Sealion PHEV solution.

22 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

22 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

22 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

Purely on technology and running costs, the Kicks is the worst possible solution.

You cannot benefit from electricity being 5 times cheaper than gas, you have to burn gas to generate electricity and you have to do that for every kilometer you drive.

Seriously, go back to the BYD Sealion PHEV solution.

Purely on technology and running costs, the Kicks is the worst possible solution.

You cannot benefit from electricity being 5 times cheaper than gas, you have to burn gas to generate electricity and you have to do that for every kilometer you drive.

Seriously, go back to the BYD Sealion PHEV solution.

Thanks @Pib and @JBChiangRai It's only a one month rental. After being denied the BYD I was offered this Nissan or a Toyota Altis ICE, so opted for the more fuel efficient Nissan (hopefully that will be the case). I did read up about this weird configuration with the Nissan Kicks and can honestly say that I'd never consider buying one.

Has anyone done a manual OTA update? In Thailand we have been stuck with the current OTA (2503) for like a year now.

I know that other countries have had updates, one of them apparently fixes the remote aircon bug (about not opening the air shutters).

I wanted to update but I'm afraid of two things:

1- problems with the warranty if I use an update that they don't have in Thailand
2- what if there are other annoyances intended for European markets for example, like not being able to leave a certain setting off (say the lane change prevention system) like we currently do and having to do it manually every time I start the car

Anyone got experience with this?

4 hours ago, FarangFB said:

Has anyone done a manual OTA update? In Thailand we have been stuck with the current OTA (2503) for like a year now.

I know that other countries have had updates, one of them apparently fixes the remote aircon bug (about not opening the air shutters).

I wanted to update but I'm afraid of two things:

1- problems with the warranty if I use an update that they don't have in Thailand
2- what if there are other annoyances intended for European markets for example, like not being able to leave a certain setting off (say the lane change prevention system) like we currently do and having to do it manually every time I start the car

Anyone got experience with this?

I haven’t done a manual OTA and would be very careful in who or where you get the update from.

If you follow The Electric Seal you will see that some updates in Europe have been stopped because of bugs (v 2.1.3 and v 2.1.4 i think ).

There used to be a site attached to the Thai FB BYD groups ( something like Thayer ? ) that I assume for a small fee would send you the update file link but haven’t seen them for a while and couldn’t find them just now ! Which might be a telling sign !

If it is just a case of the remote air con start not opening the flaps then there is a workaround, which I posted about earlier, after opening the air click on the temperature figure which will take you to another screen, on this screen click on the seat vent button which will start the car, and seat ventilation but also open the flaps.

It works, just tested it, and is recommended for air con efficiency.

The only person I have no problem in recommending to update the Seal further ( not sure if he offers this service but did in the past ) is a guy in Bangkok who has a business installing Sinjet front/rear dash cams on a led rear view mirror with a limited sentry mode system.

Around Dec 2023/Jan 2024 i used his business and have visited him a couple of times since ( once to downgrade my system for sideloading apps and another time to upgrade a cable ).

He has a shop in Bangkok called EV Place fitting all sorts of EV accessories and posts regularly on FB with some videos about his installation work.

Note: i have no connection with this guy or any financial gain, although i have banged on about him in the past i am only rewarding his excellent services with my recommendations.

If you are interested in talking to him, his English is sort of okay but obviously can communicate by text, i will pass on his phone number.

On 4/27/2026 at 8:53 PM, FarangFB said:

Has anyone done a manual OTA update? In Thailand we have been stuck with the current OTA (2503) for like a year now.

I know that other countries have had updates, one of them apparently fixes the remote aircon bug (about not opening the air shutters).

I wanted to update but I'm afraid of two things:

1- problems with the warranty if I use an update that they don't have in Thailand
2- what if there are other annoyances intended for European markets for example, like not being able to leave a certain setting off (say the lane change prevention system) like we currently do and having to do it manually every time I start the car

Anyone got experience with this?

Seeing some reports that an OTA ( from 2503 to 2602 ) is available via USB at BYD dealerships.

What is included in this update I don’t know but may be of interest to some.

I'm hearing reports that the OTA V2.0.0 is being deployed (online), but not everyone has been getting it. Any reports here?

23 minutes ago, FarangFB said:

I'm hearing reports that the OTA V2.0.0 is being deployed (online), but not everyone has been getting it. Any reports here?

Seen this on a Seal FB group page a couple of days ago:

But as yet nothing for me, did try the “ forcing “ method by repeatedly clicking the update button ( not convinced that actually works ) but eventually got the message that I am up to date with version V 1.4.1 .

2503 system version for me, the OTA apparently takes you to 2602 and gives you the new Home Screen with another layer of buttons that I think can be personalised.

Not sure what else comes with the 117 minute !! update but I think all the problem OTA’s ( temp permanently at 25°c , etc ) came later so i will update if it arrives.

21 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

But as yet nothing for me

Same here, but my wife's BYD M6 got the update prompt (same V2.0.0).

that's new, an option to check vehicle updates via the app (iOS / more functions ) ...

29 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

that's new, an option to check vehicle updates via the app (iOS / more functions ) ...

That's been available for the Atto 3 and SL7 for a while with the Android app. It may not be on the main page but on the "More Functions" page where it can be moved to the app main page if desired.

13 minutes ago, Pib said:

That's been available for the Atto 3 and SL7 for a while with the Android app.

on SL7 for a while? ... 🤔 it seems i am getting old ...

16 hours ago, motdaeng said:

that's new, an option to check vehicle updates via the app (iOS / more functions ) ...

That is interesting, took a look and it is available for my Seal on the BYD app.

I do update my apps on my iPhone regularly but usually don’t bother checking what changes have occurred until someone mentions something of interest ( as in this case ).

I did click the “ auto update at night “ option which might have updated my language packs if I had enabled it before updating them yesterday.

I am waiting for a major OTA to the Seal ( V 2.0.0, which includes a few cruise control updates, a new UI and the usual enhancements ) so will be interesting to see if it pops up or indeed downloads overnight .

The usual complaints about not getting the update on Thai Seal fb groups, many seem to be waiting, more than usual.

Someone, on fb, has suggested that while app access is unaffected by sim expiry OTA’s don’t become available and require a visit to the dealer to get updated via a usb stick.

I don’t believe that to be the case and think it is that the OTA rollout is often spread out over a number of days.

But in the interest of curiosity i will wait up to another couple of weeks before visiting my dealer.

I did update my existing language packs yesterday for no reason other than to clear the 🔴 notification and hopefully trigger the OTA, also downloaded 3 more available languages.

Strangely these 2 updates and 3 languages downloads were incredibly slow, taking around 12 hours on wi-fi while wi-fi usage remained unaffected in the house ??

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7 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

That is interesting, took a look and it is available for my Seal on the BYD app.

I do update my apps on my iPhone regularly but usually don’t bother checking what changes have occurred until someone mentions something of interest ( as in this case ).

I did click the “ auto update at night “ option which might have updated my language packs if I had enabled it before updating them yesterday.

I am waiting for a major OTA to the Seal ( V 2.0.0, which includes a few cruise control updates, a new UI and the usual enhancements ) so will be interesting to see if it pops up or indeed downloads overnight .

The usual complaints about not getting the update on Thai Seal fb groups, many seem to be waiting, more than usual.

Someone, on fb, has suggested that while app access is unaffected by sim expiry OTA’s don’t become available and require a visit to the dealer to get updated via a usb stick.

I don’t believe that to be the case and think it is that the OTA rollout is often spread out over a number of days.

But in the interest of curiosity i will wait up to another couple of weeks before visiting my dealer.

I did update my existing language packs yesterday for no reason other than to clear the 🔴 notification and hopefully trigger the OTA, also downloaded 3 more available languages.

Strangely these 2 updates and 3 languages downloads were incredibly slow, taking around 12 hours on wi-fi while wi-fi usage remained unaffected in the house ??

So after receiving a PM from a Seal owner who has owned his car since the beginning and received the latest OTA a couple of days ago i checked my car and the system update started to download.

So there goes the “ no OTA after 2 years “ theory.

Took less than 1 minute before becoming available, we normally miss this part of the sequence but i have seen it once before when driving and it was a lot slower using the sim as opposed to my home WiFi today.

Quite a lot in this OTA hence the 112 minute download time.

Normally I would download this immediately but decided to do a little experiment.

The app is automatically scheduled to download updates at 2.00 am as an option but both the car and the app allows me to schedule a time for the upgrade.

So chose a scheduled time of 6.00 am tomorrow and will see if the 2.00 am schedule overrides the 6.00 am upgrade.

Either way will report tomorrow on the upgrade features.

( oh well, i guess AN has decided i have posted enough photos for one day ! )

So, seems like the scheduled update had preference over the automatic charging at ( 2.00 am option ) and the OTA started at 6.00 am.

Took 95 minutes as opposed to 112 but I guess that depends on your WiFi or sim speed.

The update finished screen popping up on the app is a nice addition.

The usual language pack updates appeared, I updated English and abandoned the rest to see if they will update automatically at 2.00 am.

Another couple of languages appeared also:

English (India) might be interesting !!

Regarding the new UI:

Some have argued that it was unnecessarily moving stuff around and don’t like the large amount of screen space unused purely for wallpaper.

I would have preferred more flexibility on some of the buttons, many are fixed, but it does bring the Seal more in line with Atto 3 and Sealion 7 now.

Shame to see the pm 2.5 data now buried in the air con info.

Some uninspiring wallpapers I feel and will have to have a think of something better for the day to day commuting ( the England squad lifting the trophy would be good !!, we will see 🤔)

Anything happening at your end @FarangFB ?

Edited July 14Jul 14 by Andrew Dwyer