2010 Detroit Auto Show: BMW ActiveE Electric Car

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

Will be Available in Limited Numbers for Leasing
Most of you probably know about the MINI-E, an electric version of the MINI made by BMW to do real-world EV testing (and exploit a CARB loophole, some say). BMW says that it will repeat the experiment, but this time with the ActiveE, a converted BMW series 1 coupe.

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

Under the Hood of the BMW ActiveE
"The BMW Concept ActiveE has allowed BMW to explore new vehicle packaging solutions and components which will be crucial to the success of the Megacity Vehicle. The intelligent integration of drive components within the existing vehicle package of the BMW 1 Series Coupe offers the opportunity to provide four full-size seats and a luggage compartment with a capacity of 200 litres / 7 cu ft. The motor, specially developed for the model and located in the rear axle, delivers 125 kW/170 hp and provides maximum torque of 250 Nm / 184 lb-ft. It accelerates the vehicle in less than 9 seconds from zero to 100 km/h (0-60 mph in approx. 8.5 seconds)."

Sounds like a more practical car than the MINI-E for every day driving.

One of the downside of being an EV is that the ActiveE weights about 3,900 pounds, but weight distribution is close to 50/50, so handling should still be decent. I suspect that this high weight is partly due to the fact that this is a conversion job and not a car that was designed from the ground up to be an EV (for example, the Nissan LEAF is estimated to weight about 2,800 lbs).

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

"The electric drive system draws its energy from new, advanced lithium-ion battery pack developed jointly by BMW and the co-operation partner SB LiMotive especially for the BMW Concept ActiveE. They enable a range of approx. 160 kilometres (100 miles) in everyday use. An intelligent battery management system helps achieve this range largely independently of external climatic conditions. Additionally, the charging period required for the lithium-ion batteries is very short. On the European power grid, the battery pack can be fully charged in just 3 hours at a wall box with a current of 50 ampere at 230/240 volts. In North America, using a high-current (32 ampere continuous) residential wall box, the charge time is about 4.5 hours."

Range is similar to the Nissan LEAF (but the LEAF will be made in bigger numbers than the ActiveE, and will probably be a lot less expensive).

More photos:

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

Photo: Michael Graham Richard

BMW Goes Electric

Boom!

That’s the sound of another round being fired in the electric vehicle war, and it’s a big one: BMW is getting in on the action in a big way. The Germans are rolling into the Detroit auto show next month with the slick Concept ActiveE and hinting it might see production. It looks mighty close to being showroom-ready as it is.

The Concept ActiveE is the latest car out of Project i, BMW’s campaign to to develop low-emission city cars and a sustainable means of producing them. It follows the Mini E electric car out the door, and looks like a far more practical automobile even with the garish graphics.

ActiveE is based on the BMW 1-Series small cars. BMW says it is a continuation of the company’s green R&D activities and says it promises “CO2-free mobility.” Yes, yes, we know — at the tailpipe.

When BMW pulled out of Formula 1, many people scoffed when said the reason for quitting was to dedicate those resources to developing cleaner, greener cars using what it learned on the track. But BMW might have been right. We’ve seen a slew of cool hardware from BMW, including the Vision Efficientdynamics Concept and an ultra-efficient diesel, and continued field tests of the Mini E in Europe and America. And now, with the BMW Concept ActiveE, it looks like BMW is on the cusp of taking on rides like the Nissan Leaf electric car and Toyota’s new plug-in Prius.

The rear wheel drive ActiveE promises to be a fun driver that packs a slew of interesting technology. It’s propelled by a new synchronous motor cranking out 125 kilowatts (170 horsepower) and 184 pound-feet of torque. Juice is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack (of undisclosed size) BMW developed with SB LiMotive. Said battery is said to feature a new stable temperature regulation function to optimize performance.

ActiveE tips the scales at 1,800 kilos (3,900 pounds), which is a bit tubby for a car of its size but not terribly so for an EV. BMW says it kept the center of gravity low and evened out the weight distribution. Combined with the rear wheel drive platform, BMW says, ActiveE “has everything it requires to provide the dynamic driving properties and agile handling in the style of the BMW 1 Series.”

BMW says the little EV should accelerate from zero to 60 km/h (37 mph) in less than 4.5 seconds and do zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in less than 9. Top speed is limited to 145 km/h (90 mph). BMW says real-world range is about 160 km / 100 miles, depending on conditions. Flog it like a proper BMW and you’ll probably see less.

Charging of the lithium-ion battery pack is handled via conventional power outlets or a special wall box. In Europe, the battery pack can be fully charged at a 50 ampere high-current power outlet in as little as 3 hours. And in North America, using a 32 ampere continuous high-current residential wall box, the charge time is around 4.5 hours.

And just everybody will know how cool you are, BMW has added some styling elements. That color is called “Liquid White metallic,” and while it looks sharp the “Electric Blue” circuit graphics are garish. We do like the alloy wheels.

On the inside there’s the usual design tweaks like leather seats with embossed graphics and blue accentuated seams as well as body-color interior accents. The instrument panel does away with the usual gauges and displays found in cars with gas engines and now features display items specific to electric drive.

Look for a production version at the Paris auto show in September. Autoweek says BMW plans to lease the ActiveE to selected customers by the end of the year, which is the same model it followed for the Mini-E. It’s basically a big R&D project to further refine the technology before offering it to the masses. No word on what the ActiveE will cost, but the monthly lease on the Mini-E runs $850 a month. Figure you’ll pay about the same for the ActiveE.

Photos: BMW

BMW Concept ActiveE Electric Car

2009 BMW Concept ActiveE

A little more than a year ago, the all-electric Mini E stole the limelight at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Now, BMW has released details of its next all-electric concept car, which will formally debut at next month's Detroit Auto Show.

The BMW Concept ActiveE electric car is based on the BMW 1-Series Coupe, and it's a full four-seater. That contrasts with the Mini E, whose back-seat space was largely taken up by the large lithium-ion battery pack.

In fact, says BMW, the passenger compartment is identical to that of a liquid-fueled 1-Series Coupe, with no changes in the head, leg, and shoulder space dimensions. The Concept ActiveE adds a few unique styling touches to what is recognizably a 1-Series Coupe, with a closed rear apron (no exhaust pipe!), aerodynamic alloy wheels, and blue accents including a blue ring in the tire sidewall.