All abuzz over electric future
The first fully electric model from the BMW brand has broken cover. The Concept iX3 is a battery powered version of the X3 SUV that will go into production from 2020 and be sold in global markets, including New Zealand.
True, BMW makes other EVs under the ‘‘BMW i’’ brand.
But the i3 city car is currently its only pure-electric production model and that’s a bespoke effort under the ‘‘BMW i’’ brand.
The i8 sports car and the marque’s other electrified cars/ SUVs (including versions of the 2/3/5/7-series and X5) are all plugin hybrid vehicles (PHEV) that retain combustion engines.
The iX3 will be the first time BMW has extended pure electric power to a core model.
It’s also a key part of the company’s future product strategy, which it defines as Automated, Connected, Electrified and Services (ACES) technology.
The iX3 uses the fifth generation of BMW’s eDrive technology.
A key benefit is the grouping together of the electric motor, transmission and power electronics within a new, separate electric drive component.
The latest electric drive system also includes new and more powerful batteries. The electric motor produces over 200kW and the 70kWh battery pack provides a range of more than 400km.
Another feature of the highvoltage battery developed for eDrive is its optimised charging capability.
The energy storage system has a newly developed Charging Control Unit and is designed to be hooked up to fast-charging stations generating up to 150kW.
The high-voltage battery can be charged in 30 minutes from one of these stations.
BMW says future vehicle architectures will accommodate all types of front-wheel, rear-wheel and all-wheel drive.
This will pave the way for models from all the company’s brands to be equipped with different drive system variants, meaning that a pure combustion engine, plug-in hybrid drive system or battery-electric powertrain can be integrated into any model, as required.
The X3 is one of the first models whose architecture has this flexibility.
The Concept iX3 features a specially developed rear axle subframe and specific chassis integration to accommodate the battery drive system.
Modular construction of the power components enables them to be adapted to the performance levels required and the available space.
The electric motor does not need any rare earths.
The basic body shape is the same as the conventional X3, but with futuristic/functional touches.
At the front, the closed double kidney with blue accents continues themes from the i Vision Dynamics concept and the closed area within the kidney reduces air resistance, providing aerodynamic benefits.
The blue accents follow through into the diffuser in the rear apron.
The Concept is also fitted with light-alloy wheels in an aerodynamically optimised design.
BMW is currently building electrified vehicles in 10 locations around the world. The eDrive components for these vehicles are supplied by production facilities in Dingolfing (Germany), Shenyang (China) and Spartanburg in the US.
BMW Group Plant Dingolfing plays a leading role here as the network’s centre of expertise for electric drive systems.
The company has confirmed that the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture will produce a future seriesproduction version of the Concept iX3 in Shenyang, China.
Whether that will remain the sole production base for the car is not yet known, but China is seen as an ideal base: it’s the world’s biggest EV market by far.
BMW already produces a hybrid version of the X1 SUV there, but just for the domestic market. The iX3 would mark the first time a premium carmaker has exported a core model from China to key markets such as Europe and the United States.
The next major BMW i launch after the iX3 SUV will be the radical iNext, which is due in 2021.
This bespoke model will use many electric technologies from the iX3, but is also set to be BMW’s first self-driving, fully connected vehicle, with a suite of Level 3 autonomous features (which allow the drive to be completely handsoff in certain scenarios).
Last year, BMW opened a special campus to test its future autonomous driving technology at Unterschleissheim, near its headquarters in Munich. Ultimately, the company will have 2000 people working on selfdriving tech – including software developers, engineers and test ‘‘drivers’’.