On a snowy trail in Arjeplog, Sweden, BMW is out
testing its all-electric iNEXT crossover in order to optimize everything, from
the all-wheel drive system to the chassis and suspension components. The production version of the
iNEXT will be built at BMW’s Dingolfing plant starting in 2021, and will be the
automaker’s technology flagship, integrating key systems such as automated
driving, connectivity and electrification.
These components must first deal with extreme
real-world conditions, such as snow-covered roads and ice-covered lakes, where
low temperatures and minimal road friction are to be expected on a daily basis.
The biggest challenge, as far as the electrical
motor, high-voltage battery and cooling system are concerned, is posed by the
cold itself, as their performance is significantly affected. Test engineers are
also looking into how these sub-zero temperatures affect the energy storage
system and the way it recharges, how electricity is transferred into the
electric motor, how the electrical system is supplied with energy and how the
heating and air conditioning systems respond.
Also under strain are the power transmission and
suspension regulation systems, both of which are tested “far beyond” what is
standard in everyday traffic conditions. Then there are the steering and
braking systems, which have to be adapted for every single driving situation
that can be encountered. When it’s all said and done, BMW will have tested the iNEXT in
sub-zero temperatures on gravel tracks, dry asphalt and of course, very
slippery ice-covered surfaces.
