Richard Steinberg, Manager, Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy at BMWNA, presents the upcoming BMW ActiveE. The production vehicle was recently unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and a pilot kicks off in summer of 2011 in the United States.
The field trial will build on the success and experience gained during the MINI E field trial, and will serve in its turn as a test bed for the upcoming Megacity vehicles.
Just like the MINI E, the BMW ActiveE is a conversion car, an electric vehicle based on the body shell of a vehicle with a combustion engine. The BMW ActiveE integrates all electric drive components such as energy storage unit, electric motor and power electronics in a vehicle body that was not originally intended for this purpose – and without compromising on space or comfort in the interior.
The electric drivetrain produces a power output of 125 kW/170 bhp and maximum torque of 250 Nm, allowing the ActiveE to accelerate from 0 to 62mph (100 km/h) in 9 seconds. The car offers seating for four, compared to the MINI E which had its rear-bench removed in favor of a large electric batter. BMW ActiveE offers 200 liters of luggage storage.
With the newly developed lithium-ion battery unit, the driving range of ActiveE is approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) on a full charge.
