Detroit Auto Show marks another milestone in BMW’s Project i program. Today, Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW’s board executive, revealed the BMW ActiveE, the first BMW to use an all-electric drivetrain, excluding the MINI E launched over an year ago.
BMW ActiveE is the next stop in the direction of emission-free vehicles part of the Project i program and it will serve as a base for the MVC, Mega City Vehicle that will be launched by BMW before 2015.
To go with the photos below, here is Dr. Draeger’s speech at the Detroit Auto Show:
“This is e-mobility BMW style: where sheer driving pleasure and sustainable mobility are fully compatible. This concept car is a fully electric vehicle based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe.
This concept will become our second trial fleet of electric vehicles. It will be available in 2011. Once again, driving these electric vehicles will give us more real-world customer insight. We will also test the pre-series version of the MCV’s electric powertrain in this vehicle. This concept is the perfect successor to the MINI E. And it leads us down the road to series production of the Megacity Vehicle.
This concept has the following BMW features:
* rear-wheel drive and
* a powerful motor for dynamic performance
Our customers are sure to love it. The components have been cleverly arranged so that the coupe is still a true four-seater. And it offers around 200 litres of luggage space.
This concept is powered by a completely new electric synchronous motor that has been specifically developed for this vehicle. With 170 horsepower it develops a maximum torque of 250 Newton meters. In everyday driving it achieves a range of about a hundred miles.
The power is stored in newly-developed lithium-ion batteries.
Another feature is its liquid cooling to keep temperatures stable. It guarantees the driver optimum output at all times and extends battery life.
This concept also has new BMW ConnectedDrive services developed exclusively for electric vehicles. They allow the driver to check battery status from a cell phone; locate public charging stations; or even activate the car’s heating or air conditioning.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The developments within our Efficient Dynamics strategy are making an important contribution to individual mobility and sustainability. As good corporate citizens, we want to ensure that future generations learn about sustainable mobility at an early age. This is why the BMW Group has been involved for many years in various activities worldwide, bringing young people into contact with future technologies – and creating new opportunities for them to learn.”
Tomorrow, BMWBLOG will attend a Project i workshop where we will learn more about the technology powering the ActiveE, BMW’s future plans and the Mega City Vehicle. Stay tuned, but for now, enjoy the great photos!
Photos by Shawn Molnar
