2014 BMW i3 electric car
BMW is determined to turn the ultimate driving machines in its lineup into the ultimate electrified driving machines.
The Munich-based luxury car maker says it will eventually offer plug-in hybrid versions of all its core-brand models. The latest to join the auto makers electrified lineup is the 3-Series plug-in. Based on the concept, details of which are now available, BWM's most popular model will be available with the technology already in the i-brand models, says the company.
Board member Herbert Diess says the 3-Series plug-in will get a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and efficiently cooled lithium-ion battery pack. The idea behind the technology is to limit short hops to electric power only. Range anxiety is dealt with by the combined output of the gas and electric systems on board.
BMW says its plug-in system can be spread throughout its entire model range. Moreover, the company is looking at bringing hydrogen fuel cell technology into its cars. The latter is interesting because BMW has not aggressively touted its fuel cell development activities – in contrast to rival Daimler, which has said it will bring a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to market no later than 2018. Daimler's global hydrogen fuel cell centre is in Burnaby, B.C.
BMW has long said its Efficient Dynamics strategy is a comprehensive approach to maximizing the "green" aspects of all its vehicles – from aerodynamic designs to lightweight technologies. Now, the company is putting far greater emphasis on the electrification of the power train.
"The plug-in technology will be one key lever to bring high performance vehicles well below 100 g/km CO2, while retaining the driving pleasure and driving dynamics of a BMW," says the company. "We will also continue to develop fully electric mobility. Hydrogen fuel-cells will remain a key issue when it comes to drive train development, especially relating to its sustainable production."
Beyond the newly electrified 3-Series, BMW is also planning a BMW X5 eDrive model. Like others in the BMW line, it will be equipped with what BWM calls "an intelligent eDrive component-sharing system."
Future e-Drive BMW models will get much more powerful electric motors and batteries with twice the capacity of present versions, says BMW. The next milestone for the company: an all-electric driving range of up to 100 km, making all day-to-day trips emission-free in pure-electric mode.
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