New BMW Concept ActiveE
BMW's incoming chapter in its EfficientDynamics program calls for a newborn all-electric vehicle to complement its underway fleet of leased Mini E electric subcompacts. To fulfill its self-prescribed mission, it enlisted the help of the 1 Series coupe and a revised synchronous electric locomote to create a newborn show car called the Concept ActiveE. It's the epitome of electromobility in the true BMW sense, the automaker claims, and with the Mini E, continues to pave the way towards the eventual content of a mass-produced 'Megacity Vehicle'. The heart of the concept is, of course, its electric powertrain. Engineers designed the unit to replace the 1 Series' combustion engine, fuel tank, drivetrain, and rear axle. The actual motor is enclosed in the would-be differential casing, while the lithium-ion battery modules take the place of the propshaft and also fit snugly under the front hood. ActiveE keeps the 1 Series's rear-wheel drive layout, as well as its 50/50...