BMW ActiveE Heads to Detroit

Last week, BMW’s EV work hit a stumbling block when MINI E testers started noting a drastic loss of range. With winter temperatures setting in all across the country, some drivers saw range drop by as much as 50 percent. Ouch. That’s bad news for BMW and EV hopefuls everywhere, but the German carmaker says its learning volumes from the MINI E program in general, and it’s putting those lessons to work in its latest EV effort headed for the Detroit Auto Show – the Concept Active E. Based on the company’s 1-Series coupe, the car is fully electric all the time, and unlike the MINI E, its batteries are specifically designed for automotive duty. The lithium-ion packs boast a liquid cooling system to maintain an optimum operating temperature and boost battery life. That’s cool and all, but the best part is the Concept ActiveE’s beating heart – a 170 horsepower electric motor positioned at the rear of the car.

The engine and all of its associated gadgetry is mounted on top of the rear axle, leaving the traditional engine bay open for battery storage. That helps the car maintain a 50/50 weight distribution, a hallmark of Bimmer products. Unfortunately, the car’s waistline has swollen to an unbelievable 3,900 lbs. This in a car that seats two adults and two small children. Supposedly the Concept ActiveE will have a range of 150 miles, but there’s no word on performance figures. We can imagine this sucker isn’t the quickest kid on the block with a mere 170 horsepower to pull around nearly two tons of heft. The good news is BMW will be testing the car on a larger scale than the MINI E’s 600 units sometime soon, so keep your eyes open.

Source BMW