A bit green, but still a hot
> BMW 330e: Plug-in-hybrid saloon that’s actually fun to drive
TRADITIONALLY, the BMW 3 Series (and its owners) is not normally associated with the “Go Green”, saving-babyseals movement. It may still be the same today, despite the many environmentallyfriendly features and innovations the 3 Series (and all other BMW vehicles) have for many years now. The 330e we have on this page is not exactly to appease and appeal to the greenies. New fans, non-purists and those who truly embrace the latest technologies (while still look forward to enjoy the driving pleasure all BMW 3 Series are renowned for) are among its targets. It was introduced to the media by BMW early last August during the “BMW Group Innovation Days 2016” in Munich, which was part of the carmaker’s 100 years of innovation celebration. In Malaysia, the 330e was presented to the market later in the month.
Retaining exterior design features exemplary to the 3 Series, BMW says the 330e “communicates its hybrid nature while retaining its identity as an iconic sedan”. What is not exemplary is how the 330e simply looks like any other non-hybrid 3 Series. If you are just a bystander, what you can see is the “330e” badge at the back of the bonnet, subtle “eDrive” badges (made familiar by the BMW i models) on the C-pillars and, if you don’t pay attention, you won’t notice an extra fuel filler flap in the left front wing for the charging socket panel.
charging status of the highvoltage battery, thus ensuring balanced driving characteristics that combine sportiness and efficiency. The electric motor alone is used for setting off with normal power requirements, while the engine cuts in at around 80km/h or when the driver wishes to accelerate very sharply.
Switching to MAX eDRIVE mobilises the electric drive system’s full output with zero local emissions. Should more power be required than can be accessed from the electric drive system, the combustion engine will be triggered almost instantaneously, ensuring minimal disruption to the driving experience. The electric motor also doubles as an electric generator during coasting and braking achieved through electric resistance that in turn creates free electrical energy to be stowed in the high-voltage battery. With a maximum range of up to 37km on all-electric mode, the MAX eDRIVE mode is suited for city dwellers where daily urban trips can be taken with extreme efficiency and comparatively practical performance.
In SAVE BATTERY mode, energy is conserved or replenished through recuperation during coasting. The petrol engine also aids in charging the battery up to 50% to enable all-electric driving at a later point in time. Additionally, choosing the “S” position of the selector lever while in SAVE BATTERY mode will start the internal combustion engine independently. This mode offers flexibility to the driver to tailor the vehicle’s configuration to meet an infinite spectrum of driving needs.
Aside from the eDrive button, the 330e comes with a Driving Experience Control switch which allows users to configure the steering and chassis functions as well as the shift characteristics of the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. Controllable via the Driving Experience Control switch on the centre console, the modes offered are COMFORT, SPORT, and ECO PRO.
models are there: One of the best driving positions in a compact saloon, the usual BMW fit-and-finish, cutting-edge connectivity and innovative on-road companions, through the latest BMW ConnectedDrive which seamlessly links the driver, vehicle, and the outside world; latest generation Navigation System Professional including iDrive Touch Controller for even faster route calculation and realistic 3D display of urban areas; Parking Assistant function with automatic steering when parking parallel and perpendicular to the road (while parking, the PDC sensors at the front will activate automatically when approaching obstacles).
The 330e also offers BMW Online Office as part of its services and apps offering. This service enables the reading, writing and sending of emails from within the vehicle using the fixed on-board SIM card. Additional BMW ConnectedDrive Services & Apps in the new BMW 330e includes Intelligent Emergency Call, Concierge Services, BMW Teleservices and MyBMW Remote App, which in a plug-in hybrid vehicle enables drivers to regulate the car’s temperature remotely and provides data on the current charging status of the battery, among other functions. The 330e’s high-voltage battery offers a gross energy capacity of 7.6kWh and can be topped up with energy from any domestic power socket. Full charge by the conventional domestic power socket would take five hours. The BMW Wallbox Pro, meanwhile offers a quicker charge time of 3.5 hours.
As part of BMW 360° ELECTRIC, customers are offered the ChargeNow service, which consists of a ChargeNow card that grants straightforward access to partner charging stations like ChargEV which is offered through BMW Group Malaysia’s partnership with Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia). ChargEV stations are operational in 19 strategic locations throughout Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah, Malacca, and Johor.
After some joyriding around Munich and the edge of Austria during the “BMW Group Innovation Days 2016” last August, I recently got my hands on a 330e once again. This time, I took four family
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