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<\/p>\nBMW is expanding its range of electric vehicles, building two new combustion engine 5 Series variants with its eDrive 48-volt mild hybrid technology. Known as the 530e and 550e xDrive, both models will launch in November and are now available to order in Germany.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The BMW 530e sedan\u00a0is equipped with a four-cylinder gasoline engine combined with BMW’s eDrive technology to produce 299 horsepower and up to\u00a062 miles (103 kilometers) of electric range.\u00a0As for the 550e xDrive sedan,\u00a0it features an in-line six-cylinder engine to generate 489 hp and provides an electric-only range of up to 56 miles (90 km).\u00a0<\/p>\n
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eDrive is BMW’s highly efficient drive unit that employs an integrated electric motor with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. This architecture enables both plug-in hybrids to achieve a combined fuel consumption of between 235 and 392 miles per gallon equivalent (1.0 to 0.6 liters\/100 km) using the\u00a0Worldwide Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).\u00a0<\/p>\n
To improve the vehicles’ balance and storage capacity, the high-voltage lithium-ion battery is arranged in the 5 Series underbody. The battery has a usable energy content of up to 19.4 kWh and can be fully charged in about 3 hours and 15 minutes.\u00a0Additionally, BMW has utilized adaptive recuperation, enabling the battery to recover electrical energy while driving.<\/p>\n
Both the new BMW 530e Sedan and the new BMW 550e xDrive Sedan offer an extended list of standard equipment, including special 19-inch light alloy wheels. The hybrid vehicles also come with BMW’s IconicSounds Electric, a system that provides acoustic feedback matching the accelerator pedal’s movements to enhance the electric driving experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 530e and 550e xDrive are the latest vehicles to use BMW’s eighth-generation 5 Series platform. In addition to the two hybrids, there is the all-electric i5\u00a0which debuted earlier this year.\u00a0The automaker is also testing a new version of the M5, which is rumored to use the XM SUV’s\u00a0hybrid setup utilizing a twin-turbo V8 and a single electric motor to produce a combined 644 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n