2021 BMW X3 PHEV
May 31 2021,
As BMW moves towards a future of electrification, the steps along the way bridge the gap from the combustion-engined vehicles most of us drive to pure electrification. One of those steps is the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a category of vehicle that could be described as the ‘best of both worlds’ from the current market and to where the future of car buying lies. In the case of the BMW X3 30e xDrive, BMW moves their compact crossover forward with a four-cylinder engine shared with the 30i models, an electric motor between the engine and the 8-speed transmission, and a dedicated electric range of 29km. The total combined output for this system is 288 horsepower and 310lb/ft of torque.
The critical difference between a hybrid and a PHEV is the dedicated electric driving range. Hybrids have a small electrical capacity that is optimized for fuel efficiency. For PHEVs, they feature a much larger battery pack and the ability to charge up by connecting to any power outlet. For the X3 30e xDrive, a 12kWh lithium-ion battery is housed underneath the trunk floor. Like any other electrified vehicle, the BMW X3 30e has regenerative brakes that feed a small amount of electricity into the battery pack when coasting or when the brakes are applied. Some pure electric vehicles feature a ‘one-pedal driving experience’ where the regenerative brakes are so strong, they can bring the vehicle to a dead stop without ever using the brake pads and rotors. BMW avoided this approach with their X3 30e as the braking experience and one-pedal attitude can be an unnatural for drivers. At the end of the day, BMW still wanted their X3 30e to drive as well as any other BMW product.
Much like the core BMW products, the X3 30e features the Sport, Comfort and Eco Pro driving modes. They operate and change the driving feel of the X3 as one should expect. However, there is a new button just below these options that is quite different to other X3’s. Labeled as ‘eDrive’, this button changes the electric and hybrid nature of the X3 30e from three options listed as Auto eDrive, Max eDrive and Battery Hold. The Auto mode is how most consumers would expect a hybrid vehicle to work: using the battery when the driving power required is low or when coming to a stop, but always having the gasoline engine ready-to-go. The Max mode focuses on using all of the electric range before ever engaging the engine. This will be used by the drivers that want to use up all of the X3’s electrical charge to help them save a little more money at the pumps. Battery Hold mode retains a selected level of battery charge set that the energy has be preserved for later on. For example, when driving on a highway, the electrical charge will be used up quicker so if the Battery Hold eDrive setting is engaged, this battery power can be used once off of the highway and driving around at a low speed to reduce fuel consumption.
As you can tell, there is a lot to discover with the new 2021 BMW X3 30e xDrive. To learn more about this PHEV, head over to BMW Gallery in the Northwest Auto Mall where the team will help further explain the advantages of the BMW X3 30e xDrive!
