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Interior: Self-Supporting and Light
The version of the
LifeDrive architecture that underlies the BMW i3 Concept opens up totally new
avenues in interior design. There is no center tunnel bisecting the cabin, and
the interior thus creates a very free, open and airy impression.
The
passengers sit in a raised "semi-command" position which provides a good view
over the hustle and bustle of city traffic and, at the same time, eases access
to the seats.
The full-width seat benches in the front and rear create a
new and connecting feeling of space for the passengers in the light interior.
This layout also allows them to swap from one side of the car to the other and,
if necessary, to all climb out of the car comfortably on the same side. This
represents a major boost to comfort in tight parking spaces and when access to
one side of the parked car is impeded.
A distinctive element of the light
interior is the freestanding steering column. All the driving-oriented controls
- such as the instrument cluster, start/stop button and gearshift lever - can be
found here, rendering a center console superfluous. Behind the steering column
the extremely intricate yet extensive instrument panel spans the interior. It
begins at the air vents next to the steering wheel, continues in a line around
the steering column, includes the radio and climate controls, and continues on
its path to the front passenger. Shortly before the front passenger door it then
shears upwards, heads back towards the center of the interior and reaches the
end of its journey in the central information display (CID) monitor positioned
above the control panel for the radio and climate system. Around the displays,
by contrast, the instrument panel generates an almost calligraphic surface
design in which one large, wide surface sweeps prominently into a narrower and
more delicate counterpart, before culminating in another wide section. The CID
and control unit therefore present an attractive contrast to the clear, precise
borders of the instrument panel.
The area around the instrument panel,
the doors and the floor area of the BMW i3 Concept also features contrasting
materials. The natural origins of the high-strength dark anthracite material
made from compressed and coated plant fibers are clearly evident and showcase
the light, high-quality and beautifully crafted elements of the interior to
optimum effect.
Interface Design
Connectivity - the linking
up of the driver and passengers with the outside world and information
superhighway - plays an important role in the BMW i3 Concept. Three large
displays act as interfaces between the vehicle and the outside world. The
6.5-inch (16.5 cm) instrument cluster, meanwhile, emerges out of the steering
column directly in front of the driver. Its freestanding design generates a very
free and open feel around and above the driver's head. Meanwhile, the central
8.8-inch (22.4 cm) information display (CID) curves out of the black technical
layer of the instrument panel's upper section towards the passengers. It blends
seamlessly into the black surrounds, creating a very high-quality, continuous
black surface which makes the display appear even larger. Below, the likewise
unbroken black audio/climate control panel shares the form of the CID. Like the
CID, the homogeneous touch-control surface curves towards the passengers and
uses another screen to show additional information relating to the content on
the central information display.
On another level, the highly
technical-looking display graphics of the instrument cluster and CID lend visual
form to the BMW i3 Concept's electric drive philosophy. All the information is
displayed in the high quality and visually appealing fashion you would expect
from BMW. Although the relationship of the i3 Concept to the parent brand is
clearly evident again here, a very distinctive graphics profile has been created
for BMW i with the emphasis on an individual and minimalist approach.
BMW i3 Concept's Electric Motor
The electric motor of the BMW i3
Concept is designed primarily for operation in an urban environment, developing
170 hp, with peak torque of 184 lb-ft (250 Nm). Typically of an electric motor,
maximum torque is developed from standstill, in contrast to an internal
combustion engine where torque increases with engine rpm. This makes the BMW i3
Concept highly agile and provides impressive acceleration. The BMW i3 Concept
accomplishes 0-37 mph in under four seconds and 0-60 mph in under eight seconds.
At the same time the abundant torque is delivered over a very large rpm
range, resulting in very smooth power delivery. The single-speed gearbox
provides optimal power transmission to the rear wheels and accelerates the BMW
i3 Concept to an electronically governed 93 mph (150 km/h) without loss of
power. The electric drive also allows for deceleration by means of the
accelerator pedal. After the driver eases up on the accelerator, the electric
motor acts as a generator, converting the kinetic energy into electricity which
is then fed back into the battery. Energy recuperation generates a braking
effect which makes a significant contribution to vehicle deceleration.
A
coasting facility makes this unique "single-pedal control" of acceleration and
braking using just the accelerator even more user-friendly. When the driver
eases off the pedal, the electric motor's zero torque control keeps the drive
train disconnected as long as the pedal is in this position. The vehicle now
coasts without consuming power, driven by its own kinetic energy.
Battery Fully-Recharged in Six Hours
The BMW i3 Concept's battery
system has undergone detailed optimization which significantly reduces the
extent to which external factors can influence the vehicle's power. Furthermore,
an intelligent heating/cooling system keeps the battery at its optimal operating
temperature at all times, which helps to significantly boost the performance and
life expectancy of the cells.
The battery can be fully recharged in six
hours at a standard power socket. If a high-speed charger is used, an 80 per
cent charge can be achieved in just one hour.
Range Extending Petrol
Engine (REx) Optional
As the MINI E field tests showed, 90 per cent
of the mobility requirements of the pilot users could be met with the range of
the MINI E. However, some customers want a longer driving range, or want their
vehicle to be as flexible as possible. The BMW i3 Concept therefore offers an
optional range extender, the REx, which allows the driving range to be
increased. REx, a small, very smooth-running and quiet petrol engine, drives a
generator which maintains the battery charge level to ensure that the vehicle
can continue to run on electric power.
BMW i Mobility Services
An additional range of mobility services - which can also be used
independently of the cars - will be an integral component of BMW i alongside the
vehicles themselves. A totally new development in this area will be
vehicle-independent mobility services. Here the focus is on solutions which will
improve usage of existing parking spaces, as well as intelligent navigation
systems with local information, intermodal route planning and premium
car-sharing. In addition to service packages developed in-house, the BMW Group
is pursuing cooperations with partner companies as well as strategic capital
investments with providers of mobility services. BMW i Ventures was established
with this purpose in mind. The company aims to expand the product portfolio of
BMW i over the long term with stakes in highly innovative service providers,
such as MyCityWay and ParkatmyHouse.
LifeDrive Architecture of the BMW
i3 Concept
In contrast to vehicles with a self-supporting body, the
LifeDrive concept essentially comprises two separate, independent functional
units. The Drive module integrates the vehicle's suspension, battery, drive
system, and structural and crash functions into a construction made chiefly from
aluminum. Its partner, the Life module, consists primarily of a high-strength
and extremely lightweight passenger cell made from carbon fiber-reinforced
plastic (CFRP).
Both the BMW i3 Concept and the BMW i8 Concept feature
the LifeDrive architecture, but the geometric implementation of the concept
differs in the two models, having been adapted to suit their different usages.
The BMW i3 Concept features a horizontal-split variant of the LifeDrive concept.
Here, the Drive module provides the solid foundations for the Life cell, which
is simply mounted on top. The reason for this functional rendition of the
LifeDrive architecture is the large battery. In order to ensure the greatest
possible electric range, the battery in the BMW i3 Concept is correspondingly
large. The most space-efficient place to store the battery cells was in the
car's underfloor section, where they occupy the whole of the module's central
section, giving the car optimum weight distribution and a low center of gravity.
The battery is penned in by aluminum profiles, which protect it from external
impacts. Crash-active structures in front and behind it provide the necessary
energy absorption in the event of a front- or rear-end collision. The electric
drive system is, as a whole, much more compact than a comparable combustion
engine, cleverly accommodating the electric motor, gear assembly and drive
electronics - in space-saving fashion - within a small area over the driven rear
axle. The BMW i3 Concept therefore features the optimum LifeDrive architecture
configuration for a purely electric vehicle.
The integration of all the
drive components within the Drive module removes the need for a center tunnel
bisecting the interior, through which power would previously have been
transferred to the rear wheels. The BMW i3 Concept therefore offers
significantly more interior space than other vehicles with the same wheelbase
and - through solutions such as a full-width seat bench - also allows the
interior to be adapted extremely effectively to the needs of urban mobility. The
BMW i3 Concept offers comfortable accommodation for four passengers and, with
around 200 litres of boot space, room for their luggage as well.
The
chassis of the BMW i3 Concept is also ideal for city driving. Its enviably small
turning circle and direct steering responses are a recipe for outstanding
agility, notably at low speeds.
Parking Assistant and Traffic Jam
Assistant
Since the BMW i3 Concept is designed mainly for urban
operation, the vehicle features two driver assistance systems - the Parking
Assistant and the Traffic Jam Assistant. The Parking Assistant now relieves the
driver of the entire parking maneuver, performing acceleration and braking
automatically. If multiple maneuvers are required, the vehicle can also switch
between forward and reverse direction without the driver's intervention.
The Traffic Jam Assistant, on the other hand, makes driving less stressful under
monotonous road conditions. By letting the vehicle "go with the flow", it allows
the driver to get to his destination in a more relaxed state of mind. The
Traffic Jam Assistant maintains a specified following distance from the vehicle
in front, and in particularly heavy traffic can autonomously control the speed
of the vehicle right down to a standstill while providing active steering input.
This enables the vehicle to help the driver stay on course right up to a speed
of 25 mph (40 km/h) - provided he keeps at least one hand on the steering wheel.
Sustainability in the Development Process
With its innovative LifeDrive architecture
and extensive use of intelligent lightweight design, the BMW i3 Concept is
purpose-built for electric mobility. This enables an extended driving range and
even more efficient zero-emission electric operation - in other words, more
miles per kilowatt of electricity. At the same time, sustainability is also
reflected in the high-class interior, where for the first time the use of
renewable materials is clearly visible.
The BMW i3 Concept also has a
high recycled material content: 25 per cent of the thermoplastic components by
weight have been replaced by recycled and renewable materials, while 10 per cent
of the CFRP in the Life module are likewise recycled. The use of recycled CFRP
in this form is currently unique.
BMW i3 Concept: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications