Dubbed the ‘Power BEV’, this trial vehicle from BMW
is fitted with three fifth-generation electric drive units and features a
maximum system output of more than 710 HP. In turn, this
seemingly ordinary 5-Series sedan can accelerate to 100 km/h in under
three seconds. According to its development team, this concept was meant to impress
drivers not only in a straight line, but also in the corners, with an emphasis
on lateral dynamics.
This is why chassis and powertrain engineers worked
particularly closely in order to extract the maximum amount of performance from
the car. One key aspect is the fact that the vehicle’s two electric motors at
the rear axle are controlled separately. By using e-torque vectoring, maximum
drive power can be translated into forward propulsion even during extreme
driving maneuvers.
This setup is said to be more effective and precise
than what you get with a regular limited slip differential, which only reacts
to a difference in rotation speed between the driven wheels. The three previously-mentioned
drive units each have the electric motor and power electronics positioned
within a single housing. There’s one at the front axle and two at the rear.
This type of electric motor is expected to make its way into series production
alongside the BMW iX3 – although the iX3 will only have one such motor, not
three.
As for why BMW chose a 5-Series saloon as a donor
car for the Power BEV, apparently it was because it made it easier to asses
this drive concept, despite representing a serious technical undertaking. In
the end though, the drive units were integrated into the 5er with no
restriction in passenger compartment space.
In the future, BMW customers will be able to choose
between which type of technology is right for them, be it a single motor setup
like in the upcoming iX3, or perhaps a two separately controllable electric
motor setup with e-torque vectoring, like in the Power BEV.
