BMW ActiveE: The Technology

The ActiveE is the BMW brand’s first consumer electric vehicle and as you’d expect features some pretty interesting tech. The engine uses a lithium-ion battery pack for instance that was co-deveoped by SB LiMotive. For weight distribution the electric motor is actually located in the rear axle (eliminating one of the biggest complaints of the MINI E).

The synchronous electric motor delivers 125 kW/170 bhp and the maximum torque of 250 Nm / 184 lb-ft is available from standing.

Another big difference from the MINI is the way the ActiveE charges. The new system enables the lithium-ion battery pack to be recharged by a conventional power outlet at public charging stations or at a special wall box. On the European grid, the battery pack can be fully charged at a high-current power outlet (50 ampere) in as little as 3 hours. In North America, using a high-current (32 ampere continuous) residential wall box, the charge time is about 4.5 hours.

As BMW as found with the MINI E, North American winter temperatures can cause poor battery performance for those in colder climates. Because of this the ActiveE features a new stable temperature regulation function optimizes the battery pack’s performance in those situations.

While the ActiveE has grown in weight, BMW is using weight-reduced construction and the package-optimized arrangement with many components. With a weight of some 1,800 kilograms / 3900 lbs (unladen weight according to DIN), a low center of gravity and an axle load distribution which is typical of a BMW, the vehicle mirrors the standard dynamics of the 1 Series.

Predicted driving performance figures: acceleration from zero to 60 km/h (37mph) in less than 4.5 seconds and from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in less than 9 seconds, maximum speed: approx. 145 km/h (90 mph, electronically limited). As with the MINI E, the real-world range is expected to be 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 BMW Concept ActiveE also features ConnectedDrive services are standard that have been designed exclusively for use in an electric vehicle. This includes specific remote functions which enable the use of a mobile phone to check the charge status of the battery, search for public charging stations and activate the vehicle’s auxiliary heating and air conditioning functions. 

The entire package looks decided more well thought out from a technical perspective as well as a program perspective. It’s clearly a step forward for BMW after the MINI E.