Despite placing a heavy focus on electrification with 25 new electrified models planned by 2023, BMW will continue to invest in internal combustion engines for the foreseeable future, Automotive News reports.
Speaking at the sidelines of the recent #NextGen showcase, where the German carmaker also revealed the Vision M Next and Power BEV, Klaus Froelich, BMW Group board member for development explained, “a best assumption of 30% of electrified sales (battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids) by 2025 means that at least 80% of our vehicles will have an internal combustion engine.”
“We see areas without a recharging infrastructure such as Russia, the Middle East and the western, internal part of China so they will rely on gasoline engines for another 10 to 15 years,” he said, adding that BMW expects diesel engines to survive at least 20 more years, and petrol engines for at least 30 years.
Froelich also noted that the shift to electrification is overhyped, as some markets won’t fully embrace electricfied vehicles for another 10 years (or more). The lack of charging infrastructure also means places like Russia, the Middle East and certain parts of China will still rely on conventional combustion engines for another 10-15 years.
Meanwhile, in places like the United States electric vehicles won’t go mainstream quickly as they’re more popular on the East and West Coast. “Battery-electric vehicles cost more in terms of raw materials for batteries. This will continue and could eventually worsen as demand for these raw materials increases,” added.
Even though BMW isn’t giving up on internal combustion engines, it will trim its portfolio by phasing out the 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbodiesel it offers in Europe. Additionally, the 3.0 litre quad-turbo oil burner used in the 750d will also not be replaced given its complexity. Four- and six-cylinder diesel units will remain, but with no more than three turbochargers.
On the petrol side of things, the venerable V12 is also coming to an end, partly because it’s a costly affair to ensure proper updates to meet new emission regulations, but also due to the lack of sales – BMW Group sells just 5,000 vehicles with the engine, and this includes Rolls-Royce cars.
The smaller V8 has better odds for survival, although electrification will be necessary to avoid the hefty CO2 taxes in markets like the United Kingdom and France. However, as Froelich explained, “six-cylinder units coupled with plug-in hybrid applications already deliver more than 500 kW (670 hp) of power and enough torque to destroy any transmission,” which makes the case for a V8 rather questionable.
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So right now, this year is 2019. So another 30 years, BMW will sell all BMW models and M Sport Models with electric engines only while BMW will stop producing combustion engines in the year 2049. In other words, this will be like Mercedes, Volkswagen Group, Volvo and Ford that will also going to end producing engines in the future. Anyway, Keep Up BMW.
Support BMW, Proton, Geely, Mercedes, Volvo, MINI, Peugeot, Renault, Borgward, Havel, Mitsubishi and Ford > all
Germans hinted the earth fossil fuel reserves abundance until year 2050
another 30 years old transmission failure,engine oil leak,busted head gasket,cooling problems,differential problem,ignition problem,intake manifold carbon deposits,fueling problem,turbo failure,alternator failure
another 30 years of ripping of by manufacturer service center horrendous service and repair bill(or cheated by independent mechanic)
go electric,can’t wait for this money pit industry to reset itself
Lol, you are talking as if electric cars don’t need maintenance. News flash for you: EVs’ maintenance maybe cheaper but you still need to go to the ‘horrendous’ service center. Don’t even get me started on battery replacement costs and pollution from battery disposing. Please don’t act like know-it-all when you are not even halfway informed.
check out tesla maintenance program,its either superficial or completely non
tesla claim the battery can maintain 90% battery capacity at 160k miles,and expect the lifetime of more than 300-400k km.
by that time the battery might cost a lot to replace,but i can assure you a bmw gearbox or engine going to cost more,and they don’t have good record to lasting that long
so mazda was right when they invest heavily in ICE engines when they introduce skyactiv-x. even now, they stand behind their products. EVs are only as popular as their charging stations. no stations = no EVs.