Electric Range: BMW's all-electric vehicle lineup
It's a growth spurt that will see half of all sales worldwide be all-electric by 2030
Sustainable mobility is a concept that’s finally making serious inroads. Achieving the clean goal has seen different manufacturers take different approaches. Initially, most went the hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) route. The result is there’s now a bewildering array of HEVs and PHEVs. Of late, however, the thrust has changed; the all-electric vehicle is on the march. The goal is a simple one — reduce the carbon footprint the automobile leaves in its wake.
BMW’s take is found in its “I” brand, a subdivision that was originally anchored by the i3 and i8. In the next few months, the i3 will be joined by the i4 and iX, both of which are all-new arrivals for 2022. Down the road, these will be joined by the iX1, iX3, i5 and i7. It’s all part of an ambitious growth plan that, says BMW, will see at least half of its worldwide sales be all-electric by 2030.
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BMW i3
The i3 was introduced in 2014. Since then, there have been a series of tweaks aimed at making it a more liveable drive — larger, more powerful batteries that increased the driving range being key. The increase in 2019 upped the range by around 30 per cent.
The i3 consists of an aluminum “Drive Module” that houses the battery, drivetrain components and power electronics with a carbon-fibre “Life Module” for the passengers and their luggage sitting on top. The format keeps the curb weight lower, which is good for range, and it drops the centre of gravity, which improves the handling. Throw in the compact dimensions and the i3 is a quick, responsive, and nimble drive that belies its rather boxy look.
The cabin is clean and uncluttered in its presentation, and it features an intriguing blend of recyclable/reusable materials. The instrumentation panel and infotainment screens sit atop a mostly flat crash pad. The front bucket seats are comfortable, the driving position is just about perfect and the sightlines are uncluttered.
Access to the rear seat is through the suicide-hinged doors — with the front and rear doors open, the riders have unfettered access. As is to be expected, the rear seat space is limited when the front seats are moved rearward, but it remains functional. The same for the cargo capacity — a modest 260-litres with the seats up, but 1,100L when folded.
The powertrain consists of a 42.2-kilowatt/hour battery that can be fully charged in around six hours. When charged it delivers a driving range of 246-kilometres. By today’s standards, that’s limited. The i3’s replacement should inherit BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive system, which promises better all-round performance.
The battery powers an electric motor that twists out 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque in base form. The i3s ups the output to 181 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. Both work with a single-speed transmission to drive the rear wheels.
What’s different is the availability of a range-extender (REX) for both models. The tiny 0.65-litre engine extends the range driving by powering a generator that maintains the battery pack’s state-of-charge when it drops below a specific level. It’s designed as a stopgap that powers the i3 to the next charging station — the engine is fed its fuel from a nine-litre tank so the additional driving distance is limited to about 100-km, but it’s a welcome extension nonetheless!
The i3’s handling is crisp and the drive is very easy. Part of the reason for the i3’s ease of operation is the one pedal drive — lifting off the accelerator initiates the regen braking. A 100-km drive consisting of urban and suburban roads did not see the need to use the brake pedal. Not even once! The i3 goes one better by adding a sport suspension.
The BMW i3 starts at $44,950 and tops out at $54,990 for the i3s REX.
BMW i4
Next out of the gate is the 4 Series Gran Coupe-based i4. When it lands in Canada in the first-quarter of 2022, it will be offered in two different flavours. The i4 xDrive40 uses a single rear-mounted electric motor that produces 335 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The more intriguing model is the first all-electric car from BMW’s M division. The i4 M50 uses a second front electric motor to deliver an xDrive all-wheel-drive extension and it ups the output to 469 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. The fun factor is found in the Sport Boost function. It ups the output to 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque for about 10 seconds — it only takes 3.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h!
Both models use the same 83.9-kW/h lithium-ion battery. In the xDrive40, it delivers a driving range of 475-kilometres; the M50’s second electric motor and better performance drops the range to around 385-km. In both cases, a DC fast-charger puts 140-km of range into the battery in 10 minutes and it can charge it from 10-to-80 per cent in 31 minutes. One of the keys to the range is regen braking. Harvesting otherwise waste energy tops up the battery during normal driving. The i4 has automatic regen and it offers the same one-pedal drive found in the i3.
The M50’s other plus is a better adaptive M suspension with coil springs up front, load-levelling air springs at the back and adaptive dampers all round. Driving it proved it’s as agile and dialled-in as any M car.
The rest of the i4 is all 4 Series Gran Coupe. It is marked by quality materials, excellent front seats, enough space for a pair of rear riders, and a roomy trunk. The key difference is the i4 M50 earns BMW’s 12.3-inch instrumentation and 14.9-inch infotainment screens. The two sit under a single piece of glass. The graphics are crystal clear and the infotainment system easy to master.
The BMW i4 eDrive40 starts at $54,990; the i4 M50 starts at $72,990.
BMW iX xDrive50
The iX crossover is based on a dedicated EV platform and will arrive one way when it lands in Canada early 2022 — the iX xDrive50. Down the road there will be other models offered including the mouth-watering iX M60. It will arrive with 600+ hp, 800+ lb-ft of torque and a run to 100 km/h of 3.9 seconds!
The iX xDrive50 arrives with two electric motors, one driving each axle. This gives it an electric xDrive capability and a net system output of 516 hp and 564 lb-ft of torque. With a run to 100 km/h of 4.6 seconds, it is no slouch in its own right!
The electricity comes from a 111.5-kW/h lithium-ion battery that delivers a driving range of 475-km. A Level 2 charger replenishes the battery in 11 hours; however, a DC fast-charger can put 100-km of range into the battery in just 10 minutes.
Again, driving it proved that in spite of its imposing size and weight, the iX is remarkably agile. It boils down to three key elements. The load-levelling air suspension and adaptive dampers dial out practically all body roll without sacrificing ride comfort. Second, the keen front steering setup is augmented by rear-wheel steering. This combination points the iX into a corner with the authority expected of something much smaller and lighter. Finally, the all-wheel-drive system and regenerative braking combine to balance out the power delivery and capture of energy — there’s automatic regen and an available one-pedal drive mode.
Inside the iX is both comfortable and practical. There’s ample room for five riders and 500L of cargo space with the seat up. It grows to 1,750L when the seats are folded. The highlight is the latest iDrive 8 infotainment system. The new setup puts the 12.3-inch instrumentation and 14.9-inch infotainment screens under a single piece of glass. The new operating system is faster and much easier to use. For example, when in navigation mode it uses the forward-facing camera to show the scene ahead in real-time and then overlays this picture with the directional instructions. The other big step forward is the fact the voice recognition side is smarter and it understands plain language — simply say, “Hey BMW, turn the temperature down,” and down it goes.
The BMW iX xDrive50 has a starting price of $89,990.