Compact drive systems are the way to go
According to latest interview with Stefan Juraschek, Vice President Development Electric-Powertrain at BMW, the crucial advantage of the upcoming fifth-generation drive system is high integration of electric motor, transmission and power electronics into single component.
The 5th generation drive system to be more capable in terms of performances and smaller, as well as cheaper than the current generation.
“A crucial advantage of this fifth-generation system is that the electric motor, transmission and power electronics now form a single, highly integrated electric drive component. This extremely compact unit takes up far less space than the three separate components used in preceding generations. Its modular construction means that it is scalable, too, allowing it to be modified to suit all sorts of different installation spaces and power requirements. The BMW Group will start to fit the next generation of battery cells in the new, scalable and even more powerful vehicle batteries alongside the introduction of the new electric drive components. The modular “building block” concept will allow the new batteries to be incorporated flexibly into every vehicle architecture. Another highly integrated component will be added to the portfolio in the form of a DC/DC charger unit.”
The German manufacturer prepares the new architecture to achieve flexibility and scalability of production of drive system and battery packs between various models. All types (BEVs, PHEVs, HEVs and ICE) will be produced on the same production lines.
“On the one hand, we will have flexible vehicle architectures and, on the other, the scalable and modular building blocks for the electric drive systems. This will bring about a lasting increase in flexibility. In future, we will be able to swiftly decide which models we are going to equip with what mix of all-electric drive, plug-in hybrid drive or exceptionally efficient combustion engines. This will let us partially or fully electrify each model in accordance with market demand, creating the basis for the mass-market introduction of pure battery electric vehicles in the future.”
The all-electric models will be up to 700 km (435 miles) on a single charge in top configuration, while the plug-in hybrids are up to 100 km (62 miles).
Compact drive systems are the way to go
According to latest interview with Stefan Juraschek, Vice President Development Electric-Powertrain at BMW, the crucial advantage of the upcoming fifth-generation drive system is high integration of electric motor, transmission and power electronics into single component.
The 5th generation drive system to be more capable in terms of performances and smaller, as well as cheaper than the current generation.
“A crucial advantage of this fifth-generation system is that the electric motor, transmission and power electronics now form a single, highly integrated electric drive component. This extremely compact unit takes up far less space than the three separate components used in preceding generations. Its modular construction means that it is scalable, too, allowing it to be modified to suit all sorts of different installation spaces and power requirements. The BMW Group will start to fit the next generation of battery cells in the new, scalable and even more powerful vehicle batteries alongside the introduction of the new electric drive components. The modular “building block” concept will allow the new batteries to be incorporated flexibly into every vehicle architecture. Another highly integrated component will be added to the portfolio in the form of a DC/DC charger unit.”
The German manufacturer prepares the new architecture to achieve flexibility and scalability of production of drive system and battery packs between various models. All types (BEVs, PHEVs, HEVs and ICE) will be produced on the same production lines.
“On the one hand, we will have flexible vehicle architectures and, on the other, the scalable and modular building blocks for the electric drive systems. This will bring about a lasting increase in flexibility. In future, we will be able to swiftly decide which models we are going to equip with what mix of all-electric drive, plug-in hybrid drive or exceptionally efficient combustion engines. This will let us partially or fully electrify each model in accordance with market demand, creating the basis for the mass-market introduction of pure battery electric vehicles in the future.”
The all-electric models will be up to 700 km (435 miles) on a single charge in top configuration, while the plug-in hybrids are up to 100 km (62 miles).
