BMW i5 BEV Passes Artic Testing, Claims Automaker
BMW is claiming success in winter testing for the test mule of its yet to be revealed BMW i5 premium BEV sedan.
The automaker says its winter-time endurance run saw the all-electric BMW 5 Series prototype camouflaged with a special wrap, plastic attachments, grilles and provisional headlights and rear lights set off on a five-day test drive from the foothills of the Bavarian Alps up to Denmark, then on to the edge of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland.
The 1,850-mile journey focused on testing its motors, power electronics, high-voltage battery and integrated heating and cooling system for the cabin and battery pack. BMW says the car features controlled thermal management for its battery pack and an upgraded version of the brand’s fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology.
The final destination of Arjeplog provided the venue for snow-covered roads and the frozen lakes of northern Sweden, to test chassis components, steering, braking and driving dynamic and driving stability systems. The BMW engineers involved in the vehicle project were able to directly inspect the current state of development through testing in the BMW brand’s native Bavaria before it was time to return to endurance testing near the Arctic Circle in February 2023.
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
