Munich. The BMW iX3, the production of which will
commence in 2020, facilitates locally emission-free driving in a novel
and efficient form, whilst also being suitable for everyday use. A
range of more than 440 km* within the legislative WLTP test cycle will
be achieved with a net-battery size of 74 kWh*. The first purely
electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is the trailblazer for BMW
eDrive technology of the fifth generation, which, starting 2021, will
also be deployed in the BMW i4 and the BMW iNEXT. For this purpose,
both the drive system and the high-voltage battery unit featuring
pioneering battery cell technology have been completely redeveloped.
In the BMW iX3, the related advancement ensures brand-typical driving
experience combined with outstanding efficiency and a novel balance of
weight and range.
The BMW iX3 is yet a further milestone in the consistent
realisation of the BMW Group’s electrification strategy. In 2020 the
BMW X3 will become the brand’s first model available both with
conventional petrol and diesel engines as well as plug-in hybrid and
purely electric drive. With this “power of choice” offer, the globally
operating company is taking into account the various different
requirements and needs of their worldwide customers worldwide as well
as maximum effectiveness in the reduction of CO2 emissions. The BMW
iX3 is produced for the world market by the joint venture BMW
Brilliance Automotive in Shenyang, China.
* = preliminary data
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The fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology is the key to
future-oriented sustainability for vehicles with electrified drive
systems. It is the result of consistent development work within the
framework of BMW EfficientDynamics and the experience gained by the
BMW Group in the field of electric mobility spanning more than 10
years. All powertrain components used for BMW eDrive technology were
developed solely by the BMW Group. Moreover, the electric motor and
the high-voltage batteries are produced in corporately owned
manufacturing facilities. In this way, the BMW Group ensures it has a
decisive influence on the product properties and the quality of each
component. Furthermore, the drive unit and the high-voltage battery
unit are flexibly scalable in terms of power and energy content and
can thus be used in various different vehicle concepts and segments.
EfficientDynamics at its best: New drive component with high
efficiency and brand-typical power characteristics.
In the BMW iX3, EfficientDynamics reaches a new level. The
vehicle’s fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology comprises a drive
unit in which electric motor, system electronics and transmission are
brought together into a central housing. As a result, the required
installation space of the drive technology and its weight are
considerably reduced. The ratio between motor output and weight of the
drive system improves around 30 percent compared to the previous
generation.
The electric motor featured in the BMW iX3 delivers a
maximum power output of 210 kW/286 hp*. The torque of 400 Nm* allows
for high initial acceleration and keeps a high level even at the upper
motor speeds because of exclusive BMW design measures.
A further special feature of the electric motor being deployed
in the BMW iX3 for the first time is a construction method that
eliminates the need for rare earth materials.
The electric motor used in the BMW iX3 transfers power to the
rear wheels. This effectuates a further increase in drive system
efficiency. Moreover, the range of the BMW iX3 benefits from the drive
design conveying the traditional BMW rear-wheel drive experience.
High-voltage batteries with significant higher energy density
and responsible use of raw materials.
The high-voltage battery unit of the BMW iX3 is integral part of
BMW’s fifth eDrive generation and is based on the latest evolution in
NMC-811 technology in BMW typical prismatic design. The BMW Group has
outstanding development capabilities in this field. This know-how
flows into precise specifications with regard to the use of materials
and battery design, according to which the battery cells are produced.
Consistent research and development work not only raises energy
density but also constantly improves all battery cell characteristics,
in particular also durability and safety. In total, the BMW
high-voltage battery shows the optimum of what is possible
nowadays.
At the same time the BMW engineers were able to reduce
the share of cobalt contained in the battery by another two thirds.
Compared to former technology used by BMW Group, the gravimetric
energy density on cell level in the BMW iX3 is around 20 percent higher.
With the BMW iX3 the raw materials Cobalt and Lithium for the
first time are purchased by BMW directly and then handed over to the
producer of the battery cells.
In addition, scalability and the compact design of the high-voltage
battery unit have been further optimised. The battery cells are
grouped into modules at specialised BMW production locations and
finally assembled as high-voltage battery packs aligned to each model.
The high-voltage battery unit in the BMW iX3 is installed in an
extremely flat position in the vehicle floor. Thanks to this
arrangement, there is no loss of space for passengers and the luggage
compartment compared to the conventionally powered versions of the BMW X3.
Greater range thanks to high efficiency rather than a bigger battery
With a net energy content of 74 kWh*, the high-voltage battery unit
installed in the BMW iX3 achieves a range of more than 440 km* in the
legislative WLTP test cycle. Within its segment, the BMW iX3 boasts
not only a unique low power consumption of less than 20 kWh/100km*
accordingly to the WLTP test cycle, but also stands for a novel ratio
between battery size and range.
Thanks to the favourable
efficiency rating of the drive components and the high energy density
of the high-voltage battery unit, the BMW iX3 achieves a range that is
only possible for common electric vehicles with larger and thus
heavier batteries.
Positive environmental impact secured.
The “real” ecological footprint of electric vehicles is
sometimes questioned, particularly in markets still having a low
percentage of green electricity in the public power grid. At the BMW
Group every electrified model has to proof that for the entire cycle,
comprising raw material procurement, supply chain, production and
usage phase as well as recycling, its CO2 balance is substantially
better than the one of a conventionally powered sibling. For the BMW
iX3 the related advantage is more than 30 percent compared to a BMW X3
sDrive 20d when average European power supply is used during the car’s
usage phase. If the vehicle is charged with green electricity the
advantage is around 60 percent.
Furthermore, in analogy with the BMW i3 PlugPlay technology, the
high-voltage battery featured in the BMW iX3 is planned for a second
life as a stationary battery pack for the period following the first
long life in the car. This way the already positive CO2 balance of the
BMW iX3 can be further improved.
* = preliminary data