In an age where electric vehicles are starting to pick up, several major car companies are trying to adapt to a new breed of vehicles. BMW, an established car brand that has been dipping its hand in the electric car segment is on the verge of unleashing a promising electric-powered SUV in the BMW iX3. And the upcoming hybrid is oozing with features that are expected to appeal to car enthusiasts, particularly the ones into electric-powered ones.
The BMW iX3 will bring the company several firsts. It will be the first vehicle that will use BMW’s eDrive technology, something builds around a single drive unit that combines electric motors with transmission and power electronics. Overall, it will be a smaller package, accounting for a lighter vehicle to use that also addresses concerns on energy consumption and longevity of use. The combination which integrates the latest technology should be a benchmark that rival car companies could take into consideration.
Aside from that, an electric car’s use will also depend on the type of battery backing it up. Tesla has had its share of issues with the batteries used in their EVs and it appears BMW is ready for that. They will have more powerful high voltage batteries, all modularly designed so that they can be easily integrated into vehicles of different types. There is also the electric motor behind it all, something that reportedly has some ecological benefits.
In terms of travel, the BMW iX3 will reportedly be a vehicle that can go around 440 kilometers. This was based on tests made via the WLTP cycle. The mileage is remarkable, something critics feel is more than generous when compared to how far other electric vehicles can go. The vehicle underwent more than 340 hours of testing and/or 4,700 miles of test driving.
Impressive and promising as the features of the BMW iX3 may seem, there is a bit of a catch in terms of availability. The EV will only be made available in China and Europe but not in North America.
“This is the first time we have completed the entire homologation process for a fully electric model in China and Europe at the same time,” Arno Keller, head of development for the iX3.
Production of the BMW iX3 is currently underway at the BBA Plant Dadong in Shenyang. The vehicle is anticipated to come out in late summer. It is being built alongside the BMW X3 with combustion engines, giving manufacturers a bit of flexibility in bumping up numbers. As for the United States, EV consumers will just have to wait until the BMW i4 is ready to come out.
