BMW could expand its electrified powertrain options beyond mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and pure electric vehicles (EVs) to include gasoline range extenders.
Sources told Bloomberg BMW is considering adding a petrol range extender option to some of its electric vehicles.
Currently, the automaker is only considering adding this feature to its larger vehicles, as these have the necessary engine compartment space to easily accommodate both a small gasoline engine and an electric motor.
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If the project gets the green light, the first cars to benefit will likely be the i7 and iX5, but it’s not clear when range extender options will be available. The next-generation
In an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), the electric motor(s) are solely responsible for driving the wheels. The petrol engine is only switched on to recharge the battery when it is almost empty or the driver requests charging.
This technology is nothing new for BMW, with the company’s groundbreaking and now-defunct i3 hatch being offered in both all-electric and EREV forms.
The i3 REV with extended range featured a 25 kW 647 cc two-cylinder engine from BMW’s moto-scooter range and could not charge the battery faster than it was empty on fast highways or hilly roads. That’s because the system in the original i3 was designed to provide enough power to get the car to a charger.
Modern EREVs, like those offered by Chinese brands, have larger engines and are designed for long-distance trips where charging stations may be difficult to find or access. In typical urban and suburban use, EREVs are designed to operate as pure electric vehicles.
EREVs have become popular in China and the technology is also appearing on the radar of European and American automakers.
Volkswagen is reviving the Scout brand for a new full-size pickup and SUV for the American market. They were originally designed as EV-only models to compete with models like the Rivian R1T and R1S. However, with electric vehicle adoption in the US lagging well behind expectations, Scout’s ute and SUV will instead be available with both EV and EREV powertrains.
In September, Ram canceled its long-delayed 1500 EV and accelerated production of the range-extender model previously known as the Ramcharger.
Although BMW was one of the first to offer electric vehicles with the i3, enthusiasm for electric vehicles was not as great as that of many other manufacturers.
Instead of rushing to develop purely electric models, the company changed its CLAR architecture to support electric powertrains in addition to gasoline, diesel, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
Just this year, BMW launched its first dedicated mainstream electric vehicle platform. Dubbed “New Class,” the architecture debuted in the latest iX3 and will serve as the basis for the upcoming i3 sedan.
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