The drive of BMW's 'Megacity Vehcile' (MCV) will sport a power of “significantly more than 100 kW”, BMW said in a press release. Along with the lithium-ion battery developed in cooperation with partner SB LiMotive, the powertrain will weigh some 100 kg more than a comparable conventional engine along with a full fuel tank. In order to at least partially compensate for this disadvantage, BMW will implement a unique body design, dubbed “LifeDrive”: The body will consist of two modules, the “drive module” and the “life module”.

The drive module, made of aluminum will accommodate the motor and the battery along with the respective electronics units. The life module contains the passenger compartment and will be made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). According to the car maker, this material is at least as strong as steel at 50 percent less weight. BMW also claims that it will be the first car manufacturer to use this material in high-volume serial production. 

Image: The power electronics box for BMW's e-car. It be able to switch 25A at 400V.

The electric engine will be implemented as three-phase, permanent field synchronous motor which will give the MCV a speed of 150 km/h. “A higher speed would have been possible, but due to the disproportional higher air resistance only at the expense of the driving range”, a BMW spokesperson explained. The driving range has not been specified but the company said that trials in the USA and Germany with the e-Mini, the electric version of the Mini small car have shown that a range of some 100 miles or 160 km has been perceived as satisfactory by the test drivers.

The battery to be used will be lighter but at the same time more durable than existing types, the company said. It will use a different chemical composition compared to lithium ion batteries used today and also compared to laptop computer batteries. This composition will give the battery a higher tolerance against temperature variations. Details were not provided.

With respect to the electronic interior fittings, the company also was rather uncommunicative. Upon request, a spokesperson only acknowledged what observers against the background of BMW’s numerous research activities in the field of Car-to-x communications, Telematics and consumer electronics integration already suspect: Connectivity and intermodularity will loom large in the planned Megacity Vehicle.