BMW Plans To Install Petrol Engines In Its EVs For Extended Range

BMW is considering production of the iX5 and i7 in extended-range versions (EREV) equipped with gasoline engines.

According to media reports, BMW believes the i7 sedan and future iX5 are large enough to accommodate a compact gasoline engine without compromising the overall design. The company manufactures the motors in-house, so integrating one into a large electric vehicle should help reduce development costs and shorten the time to market for such a vehicle.

Extended-range electric vehicles function like regular electric vehicles with one or more electric motors. However, these cars also have a small internal combustion engine that works solely as a generator for the battery, burning fuel to extend the range if charging stations are not available.

For BMW, the key factor is the Chinese market, where local manufacturers such as BYD have achieved considerable success with EREV models.

The company continues to explore the possibilities, and the arrival time of the new generation of BMW EREV vehicles has not yet been announced. Representatives of the German manufacturer announced that the company is constantly analyzing vehicle usage concepts, customer needs, and market trends, assessing the potential of various technologies.

• Also See: BMW’s Self-Driving Technology Gets Approval From DCAS