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Driving a BMW X5 with No Emissions? Is it Possible?

The BMW X5 isn’t exactly the first car you’d think of when arguing for clean cars. Let’s face it, most people that buy this SUV aren’t exactly interested in how much their V8 engines sip over the course of their daily chores. There are a few of them out there though, that do.
BMW X5 eDrive Concept 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from Youtube
For them, BMW invested a lot of time and energy in developing the so-called BMW X5 eDrive Concept, a car that was unveiled a while ago and whose production version we’re still waiting for. The teasers the Germans released along the way help out a bit but they still refuse to release the full specs.

Now, a new video was posted on the company’s Youtube account, claiming that you can drive your X5 with no emissions whatsoever. But is that true? In a way, yes.

How is this possible?

You can drive the eDrive concept in pure EV mode but only for up to around 19 miles (30 km). That’s how long the battery hidden under the luggage compartment floor will last carrying the SUV around town. In order to do that, the X5 is fitted with an electric motor sourced from the i3 that makes around 95 HP and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. This little guy will also keep going to a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h).

Don’t think that all it took was to change the drivetrain, though. Other modifications were also done to the car, including a new, more aerodynamic front bumper, new wheels and other small tricks that help out along the way.

How about range?

This is a plug-in hybrid car. That means that up front, under the bonnet, there’s a little 2-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine with a turbocharger attached to it that will take over once the juice runs out. It will probably make around 240 HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque and will make sure you get to where you want to without suffering from range anxiety.

Combined, the two would offer the X5 eDrive around 340 HP and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft), plenty for even an SUV of its size. Furthermore, coupled to the xDrive all-wheel drive system you can use them both all year round, driving inside the city with zero emissions and going for longer trips with no range anxiety.

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