Things are definitely changing in the world and a brand that was believed to be one of the last bastions of conventional driving is turning around. BMW just unveiled its first plug-in hybrid model that will be sold under the main brand and the world is taking notice already.
The F15 X5 xDrive40e was launched just a few days ago and it promises to be the most fuel efficient car in the range, even though it’s a 2-ton SUV. That’s because of its intelligent drivetrain that uses xDrive, an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as efficiently as possible.
Under the bonnet hides a 2-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, making 245 HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. At the same time, within the gearbox housing there’s an electric motor making 113 HP and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque.
Unfortunately, the two can’t work at full capacity at the same time, therefore the total maximum output of the car can go as high as 313 HP and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque. That level of power and torque is what gave the car the 40e denominator, hinting at the xDrive40d model for example, that has a bi-turbo diesel making 313 HP as well.
Unlike the diesel powered car though, this... thing... can return a fuel consumption as low as 3.4 l/100km (85.6 mpg imp) and even go all electric, without releasing a single gram of CO2 into the atmosphere. Of course, it will do so for a limited range of up to 31 km (19 miles), due to the 9 kWh battery.
Speaking of which, BMW just released a video showcasing how the recharging of the xDrive40e model is done. According to Gerhard Thiel, Project Leader for the BMW X5 xDrive40e the car can be recharged at a standard household outlet in less than four hours.
That seems like a lot of time to simply stand by. If you want to keep going without plugging in, there’s another way to charge your batteries. I’m talking about the various on-board features that can be used to replenish energy by entering the SAVE Battery mode.
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