BMW Plans Plug-In Versions of all Core Models

BMW is planning to share the technologies developed for its i sub-division to benefit the rest of its lineup.

The German automaker has announced that it will unveil a BMW 3 Series plug-in hybrid prototype along with a new generation of hybrid vehicle concepts sporting technology currently used in BMW i models. In the long term, BMW is planning to offer plug-in hybrid versions of all its core-brand models. The 3 Series plug-in hybrid prototype will feature a four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an electric motor that is based on the BMW eDrive technology currently used in the i3 and i8 models.

“All BMW Group models benefit from BMW i,” BMW board member Herbert Diess said. “The fundamental technology involved in battery cells, electric motors and the power electronics will be used in our upcoming plug-in hybrid models. When it comes to the electrification of the drivetrain, we are deliberately developing a wide-ranging expertise in order to offer our customers worldwide the ideal solution.”

According to BMW, the plug-in hybrid tech is flexible enough to be integrated into a wide range of vehicle applications, making it easier for the company to offer fuel-efficient variants across its entire lineup.