The “i” sub-brand, which currently consists of the i3 city car and the i8 sports coupe, and its eDrive powertrains are but the first step in the electrification of all core-brand models of the BMW Group.
The Munich-based automaker announced that it will present a BMW 3-Series plug-in hybrid prototype and a new generation of hybrid vehicle concepts that benefit from technology used in the “i” Series.
“All BMW Group models benefit from BMW i. The fundamental technology involved in battery cells, electric motors and the power electronics will be used in our upcoming plug-in hybrid models”, said Member of the Board of Management at BMW AG Herbert Diess. “When it comes to the electrification of the drivetrain, we are deliberately developing a wide-ranging expertise in order to offer our customers worldwide the ideal solution.”
The prototype 3-Series combines a four-cylinder TwinPower turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor. The latter, along with the electronics, are directly based on the ones used in the i3 and i8, and the same stands for the battery management and the direct cooling systems.
According to BMW, the plug-in hybrid technology is flexible enough to be used across its line-up, with all-electric vehicles being suitable for urban environments and hybrids for covering longer distances. The German company also acknowledges that EVs along with hydrogen fuel cell technology might be “a viable option” for the future.
All the important components and technologies are developed in-house and, starting 2015, will be built at BMW’s plant in Dingolfing, in a plan that involves 200 new jobs and an investment of “many tens of millions of euros” over the next five years.
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