BMW iX3 EV is set for production in 2020 and comes with 440 km range

MANILA: BMW’s first fully electric vehicle set to enter the production line sometime next year. First unveiled in April 2018 as a concept car, the iX3 has come a long way as BMW worked tirelessly to produce the production version of the all-electric SUV.

The production BMW iX3 will be equipped with a 74 kWh battery pack that has a driving range of about 440 km in just a single charge according to Europe’s WLTP cycle. This means that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will give a slightly lower driving range which is probably around 354 km. But BMW could also follow other car manufacturer’s lead and seek an independent body to carry out a second test.

Power for the iX3 will come from the fifth generation of BMW’s eDrive electric powertrain system, which the company is very proud to announce, has components that were solely developed by BMW which allowed the company to scale and replicate it to power other vehicles in its portfolio.

The BMW iX3 generates power via a single electric motor that can deliver 286 Hp of power and 400 Nm of peak torque despite its compact battery pack and low power consumption which is pegged at 20 kWh per 100 km.

What makes the BMW EV extra special is its unique approach to producing its powertrain. Unlike most car manufacturers, BMW did not make use of any rare earth metals for the motor. Furthermore, the company did not seek any third-party supplier for cobalt and lithium and instead transacted directly with mining companies. BMW also made sure that all components of the powertrain are manufactured in-house.

When the BMW iX3 rolls into showrooms, it will be a pioneer range—the first BMW to be sold that is manufactured in China as the Chinese state-owned automaker Brilliance will assemble the EV. There are also no plans, as of the moment, to discontinue the gasoline-powered X3. Ergo, the X3 nameplate will be the first in BMW’s lineup that will have both conventional gasoline and diesel engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid and purely electric drive.

Pricing information and full car specs have not been released by BMW but expect it to be released ahead of or together with the launching of the iX3 sometime in early 2020.

Also Read: BMW reveals 2021 i4 electric car with 600km driving range