BMW E1

BMW
BMW E1 (Z15, 1993)
E1
Presentation year:	1991
Vehicle fair:	IAA
Class :	Small car
Body shape :	Station wagon
Engine:	Electric motor : 32 kW
Length:	3460 mm
Width:	1650 mm
Height:	1335-1393 mm
Wheelbase:	2320 mm
Empty weight:	900 kg
Production model:	none

BMW E1 2nd generation (Z15, 1993), rear view

BMW E1 is the name of two prototypes of an electric vehicle from BMW from 1991 and 1993.

First generation BMW E1

The original E1 was presented by BMW at the IAA in Frankfurt in 1991 .

The BMW E1 (factory code Z11 ) was a 2 + 2 seater that was only 3.46 m long, but at 1.65 m wide, almost as wide as a contemporary 3-series BMW . The design language of the BMW models of the time was adopted, such as the double glazed headlights at the front.

The peculiarity of this model was that it was a purely electric vehicle. The motor, which was mounted directly above the rear axle, had an output of 32 kW and, as is usual with BMW, transferred its power to the rear wheels. The top speed was 120 km / h, acceleration from 0–50 km / h was 6 seconds, acceleration from 0–80 km / h was 18 seconds. The wheelbase was 232 centimeters, the turning circle less than nine meters. The 200 kilogram sodium-sulfur battery with 120 volts and 20 kWh provided energy for a range of approx. 200 km under favorable circumstances before the BMW E1 had to be plugged in again for 6-8 hours (with the charging cable behind one half of the kidney found). The vehicle had a recuperation brake ( braking energy recovery ) with the help of which the traction battery could be recharged using the braking energy. The drum brakes integrated in the rims were outstanding for the time. This first prototype fell victim to a fire.

Second generation BMW E1

The new BMW E1 (factory code Z15 ) made its debut at the IAA in Frankfurt from 9-19 . September 1993. It was designed in order to be able to be mobile completely emission-free in the city and extremely low-emission in the country. The specifications stipulated that all variants of the E1 would meet the requirements for usable performance, acceptable range, uncomplicated handling and a high level of active and passive safety with low weight.

From the original E1 and the Z13 study, the employees of BMW Technik GmbH developed a two-door, four-seater, 3.70 meter short and therefore manoeuvrable sedan, which - depending on the application - can be equipped with an electric drive, a combustion engine or both. The frame of all externally largely identical variants consists of a computer-calculated aluminum frame using so-called "space frame" technology, while the outer skin is largely made of recyclable plastic and some aluminum parts.

The combustion engine variant

As with the BMW Z13, a 1.1-liter engine from the BMW K motorcycle series serves as the drive unit . The in-line four-cylinder, which has been reduced to 60 kW (82 hp) for use in automobiles and is torque-optimized for this, is located in the front of the vehicle and drives the front wheels. With a weight of only around 800 kg, the E1 with a gasoline engine reaches the 100 km / h mark in 11.5 seconds. The maximum speed is 180 km / h, the average consumption is given as 5 to 6 l per 100 km.

The electric version

The electric E1 is around 100 kilograms heavier than the combustion engine variant. The 200 kg high-temperature sodium-nickel chloride battery from AEG with a capacity of 19 kWh is housed under the back seat . It supplies the further developed ABB Unique electric motor, which is positioned above the rear axle and has an output of 32 kW (45 hp) and a maximum torque of 150 Nm. The range is - depending on the driving style - up to 265 kilometers. This E1 accelerates to city speed in under six seconds, and 80 km / h is reached in 12.7 seconds. Its top speed is 125 km / h.

The hybrid variant

The hybrid version has both drive sources, which - depending on the application - can be switched independently of one another. The battery could be smaller here, whereby the space gained in this way is taken up by a 40 liter fuel tank. The performance is roughly the same as that mentioned above, but the hybrid E1, at 930 kg, is another 30 kg heavier than the electric version.

This gives the E1 user a choice: If the vehicle is used predominantly or exclusively for short-haul traffic, the all-electric E1 is the preferred choice (or wherever emission-free traffic will one day be absolutely necessary). If you want to move quickly with a conventional range, the variant with a combustion engine is an advantage. And the hybrid car is ideal for “mixed operations”.

Incidentally, the two generations of the BMW E1 differ not only technically but also optically. The first-generation BMW E1 (press photos often show the car in red paintwork with the official registration number M-DA 8375) differs from the second-generation BMW E1 (press photos show the car in green (registration number: M-JE 9483) or red paintwork (Identification: M-JE 9482)) in particular through a narrower all-round bumper strip, different seats, a different dashboard and the differently designed rear end. In addition, the Hofmeister kink of the C-pillar is designed differently. The second-generation BMW E1 also has fender flares in the form of pronounced beading, which the first-generation E1 does not have.

Design study BMW E2

At the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show from December 2–12. In January 1992 BMW presented the BMW E2 study based on the E1. The BMW E2 study differed from the E1, which was developed for urban traffic in Europe, essentially in that its dimensions and performance were tailored to the US traffic conditions. The stylists at Designworks should first use a model to show what such a vehicle could be like. The result was a four-seater, which when fully equipped with an empty weight of 1000 kg is around 100 kg heavier than the E1, but with the same width at 3.82 meters, 36 centimeters longer and at 1.45 meters five centimeters lower than the "original Model "would be.

The following values ​​were planned for the E2 with the engine producing around 32 kW (45 PS): Acceleration from 0 to 50 km / h in 6.5 s, from 0 to 80 km / h in 15.6 seconds, top speed 120 km / h. The maximum range should be 430 km, the range in practice at 260 km.

Web links

Commons : BMW E1  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Herbert Völker: Self-experience . The first city trip in an E1 electric vehicle. In: BMW AG (Ed.): BMW Magazin . No. 3 , 1991, pp. 50-58 .
2. ↑ Information about the E1. automobilrevue.de, accessed on October 4, 2015 .  
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g} World premiere at the IAA: The E1 - for the second . In: BMW AG (Ed.): Bayernmotor . BMW employee newspaper. No.  9 , September 1, 1993, ZDB -ID 558618-5 , p. 1 + 4 ( bmw-grouparchiv.de [accessed on August 11, 2016]).
4. ↑ ^{a b c} Rainer Stiller: Mobility is life . In: BMW AG (Ed.): BMW Magazin . No. 3 , 1993, p. 14-24 .
5. ↑ Color images and sectional view of the first E1 (Z11) , Old Concept Cars from October 4, 2013 (English), accessed May 19, 2018.
6. ^ Thomas Gubitz, Uwe Mahla: Press information . Ed .: BMW AG. December 9, 1991.

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