BMW Concept ActiveE

160km range, rear-wheel drive, no fuel, no emissions. Meet BMW's first all-electric car.
BMW has moved another step closer to its first plug-in production car.

The Concept ActiveE will debut at January's Detroit motor show, showcasing technology that's being developed for the German car maker's new range of electric city cars due before 2015.
The ActiveE follows the Mini E as part of BMW's 'Project i' zero-emissions program. It's based on a 1-Series Coupe but ditches the internal combustion engine and fuel tank for a twin battery pack and electric motor capable of powering the car for up to 160km.
BMW says the lithium-ion battery packs - one is positioned under the bonnet, the other under the car - don't restrict the coupe's four-seat interior room, though the electric motor almost halves boot space, to 200 litres.
The ActiveE also weighs about 400kg more than a regular 1-Series Coupe, though BMW claims the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than nine seconds and reach an electronically governed top speed of 145km/h.
According to BMW, a driver can also extend the ActiveE's range by up to 20 per cent by lifting off the accelerator pedal rather than pressing the brake pedal to slow the car.
This is made possible by the electric motor switching its function from propulsion unit to generator that tops up the battery pack after converting the kinetic energy into supplementary electric power.
BMW says its electric car's recharging time can be as fast as three hours using a fast-charging system, though owners can also use conventional electrical sockets.
BMW has incorporated the electric motor into the rear axle to ensure the ActiveE adheres to the company's preference for rear-wheel drive. The motor generates 125kW of power, as well as an instantaneous 200Nm of torque.
The positioning of the battery packs is said to further aid the car's handling by lowering the centre of gravity and contributing to a near-50/50 weight balance.
Special alloy wheels (designed to reduce drag), the absence of exhaust pipes at the rear, and electrical-circuit graphics ensure the ActiveE concept won't be confused with a regular 1-Series Coupe.

The interior is near-identical, though the ActiveE's dash features instruments specific to the electric-drive system.

The Concept ActiveE will join the Mini E in real-world field trials, leased to both private and fleet customers for daily use.
BMW will use the feedback from these customers to help develop its future city cars, including the Megacity Vehicle that will become part of a new sub-brand.

BMW Concept ActiveE

125kw and 200 nm of torque. that pretty impressive for an electric engine

Electric engines are far more powerful and efficient than IC engines of a similar physical size. The main draw back of electric cars is their power source, the motors can easily put out the power, batteries aren't really up to the task of supplying it.

powwa!!! yeh high killa wasps but the NM is down on the oil burners yeah?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Nasa

powwa!!! yeh high killa wasps but the NM is down on the oil burners yeah?

But that is balanced with the recharge time and range. And as soon as you put the accelerator down and until 145km/h you get all 200nm. The balance is also further enhanced by its range. That is a good week of city driving it is also heavy, luxurious and safe.

The G-Wiz has a range of 116km and top speed of 82km/h.

That 200nm is limited. Technically, an AC motor will have infinate torque @ 0rpm and it will exponentially decline as revs increase. At a guess, I'd say 145km\h is where they found the motor can no longer produce 200nm and have limited it rpm rather that having it fell like the power fell of a cliff when you get there.