BMW to Premiere New Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles & Free EV Charging in Geneva

author: Mia Bevacqua   

BMW has some big reveals on tap for the 89th annual Geneva Motor Show next month. World premieres include the new BMW 330e, new BMW X5 xDrive45e and plug-in hybrid members of the new BMW 7 Series. Plus, the company will provide details regarding its new Energy Services that will offer free electricity to PHEVs and EVs.

BMW 330e

The iconic 3 Series underwent a major redesign for 2019, and now, BMW is ready to unwrap the revamped plug-in variant: the 330e sedan. The car features a four-cylinder engine, electric motor and lithium-ion battery. Together, the powertrain provides an output of 252 hp (185 kW) – a number that can increase by 41 hp (30 kW) with the use of an "XtraBoost" function. Electric range is approximately 37 miles (60 km), which is nearly 50% further than the outgoing model. The new 330e is expected to hit dealership showrooms starting summer 2019.

BMW X5 xDrive45e

BMW's plug-in midsize SUV, the X5 xDrive45e, also gets a refresh. The gas-powered variant is revised for 2019 and the new hybrid model is slated for debut as a 2020 model. When it arrives, BMW promises it will have an electrified powertrain consisting of a straight-six engine and electric motor. The combination is expected to generate 395 hp (290 kW) and propel the big vehicle from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.6 seconds. Pure electric driving rage is expected to be about 50 miles (80 km). BMW says it will bring the SUV to market later this year.

BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid

The entire 7 Series lineup – including the plug-in variant – will be completely redesigned for the 2020 model year. Three different PHEV models will be offered: the 745e, 745Le and 745Le xDrive. A six-cylinder engine and electric motor will power all variants. Output from the powertrain is expected to be 394 hp (290 kW) with the drive mode selector set to SPORT mode. Electric range will be up to 36 miles (58 km) in the 745e model. Expect to see the new 7 Series in dealerships starting this Spring.

Energy Services

BMW also announced it will offer free, green charging to owners in select areas. Pilots of its Energy Services program will begin in Switzerland and France, followed by Germany in April of this year. The packages will be for use at home and in public. BMW hopes that, in the future, its Energy Services will be beneficial to fleet operators, energy suppliers and property managers, as well as personal vehicle owners.

Commitment towards electrification

The German automaker says it plans to continue focusing in the four areas it refers to as ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified and Services/Shared). In 2018, BMW sold over 140,000 PHEVs and EVs worldwide, while also leading the way as Europe's most successful manufacturer of electrified cars. The goal is to have half a million PHEVs and EVs available worldwide by the end of 2019.

Source: BMW

Mia Bevacqua

Mia is an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician, L1, L2 and L3 Advanced Level Specialist. She has over 12 years of experience in the automotive industry and a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology. These skills have been applied toward content writing, technical writing, inspections, consulting, automotive software engineering.