BMW ActiveE Concept
BMW are developing some of the world's most anticipated electric cars at the moment with the i3 and i8 spearheading the launch of BMW's 'i' brand. The 1-Series based ActiveE is the first pure electric car to eminate from Bavaria since the MINI E, and the production car makes its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
Unlike the compact MINI E, the 1-Series platform has enough space to ensure that rear passengers can come along for the ride, and also offers a useful, if reduced, trunk space.
With a powerful electric engine and distinctive styling this, says BMW, is the car that’s set to revolutionise the compact executive car market.
Dubbed the BMW ActiveE concept and inspired by the firm’s Efficient Dynnamics Vision coupe - unviled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 – the car gets a stiking white and blue paint scheme, and black alloy wheels complete with a blue pin stripe.
However as well as offering emission free driving BMW is promising that the ActiveE will also offer a class defining driving experience.
There are currently no plans to offer the car in the UK.
Electrical vehicle components are usually much more space efficient than internal combustion-engined vehicles, as there is no massive engine and drive train to take up all the central space. The largest portion of the battery pack in the BMW Concept ActiveE is located where and fuel tank would be in the lower section of the vehicle. Using lightweight components and the lithium-ion battery cells, vehicle curb weight is limited to about 1800 kg / 3900 lbs, and the positioning of the battery pack shifts the vehicle’s center of gravity downwards.
Also, the battery cell layout within the vehicle preserves the near 50-50 weight distribution characteristic of BMW vehicles.
The ActiveE uses a new, advanced lithium-ion battery pack developed jointly with SB LiMotive just for the ActiveE. The battery management system helps achieve a 160 km range largely independently of external climatic conditions. Maximum torque is available from a standstill as is typical for electric motors, but unlike asynchronous electric motors, the new power unit provides a high level of torque at higher engine speeds and with increased load, the torque only decreases gradually. As soon as the driver’s foot is removed from the accelerator, the electric motor performs the function of a generator, converting the vehicle's kinetic energy into electric power and storing it in the battery pack. At the same time, a brake torque is created which results in effective deceleration of the vehicle. During Brake Energy Regeneration function, the vehicle’s brake lights are illuminated.
When the driver requires a higher level of deceleration, stepping on the brake pedal engages the conventional hydraulic braking system. The lithium-ion battery pack specially developed for this vehicle supplies energy to the motor and all other functions. The high-voltage battery units offer a particularly high storage capacity and durability. Powerful battery cells are key when it comes to designing production vehicles with electric drive. The lithium-ion batteries of the BMW Concept ActiveE have their own liquid cooling system and intelligent battery management system, which are key elements in increasing both the storage capacity and the durability of the battery cells. The storage system developed for the BMW Concept ActiveE enables a real-world range of about 160 km/100 miles on a single charge, depending on conditions (FTP72 cycle range is calculated to be 240 km/150 miles in simulation).
The lithium-ion battery pack of the ActiveE can be recharged using a range of power sources. For the BMW Concept ActiveE, a special heating and air conditioning system was developed which is supplied with energy from the high-voltage battery via the vehicle power network. The driver can heat or cool the interior before a trip using the auxiliary heating or air conditioning system – an option which is available when the vehicle is connected to a charging station and the battery is fully charged. The air conditioning systems developed for the BMW Concept ActiveE can also be activated via mobile phone. In addition to the intelligent remote controlled operation of the auxiliary heating and air conditioning, BMW ConnectedDrive offers additional services specially developed for the BMW Concept ActiveE. As a next step, the BMW Concept ActiveE will now be used in a trial fleet of electric vehicles.
