BMW Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles.

BMW Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles combine the conventional BMW TwinPower Turbo combustion engine with an electric motor. This dual-drivetrain system works together to reduce exhaust emission and provide potential fuel savings without restricting range. Intuitive drive modes automatically optimize efficiency by selecting the ideal combination of electric and gas power on drives of any length. You can also choose to drive in fully electric mode within a certain range, or with the convenience of the combustion engine like a conventional BMW. The electric range of a plug-in hybrid vehicle depends on the size of the battery, as well as the vehicle weight, aerodynamics, and tire type.

One important external factor influencing the performance and capacity of a battery is temperature. As you know from your mobile phone battery, the performance is affected by cold and hot temperatures. This is why it is important, especially in winter, to "pre-condition" the vehicle while its charging from the My BMW App -- in other words, to heat the battery and interior. Or, to cool them down in summer. This not only saves you energy for the journey, but it also enables an added measure of efficiency from the outset. Apart from temperature, other factors that can affect your range are air conditioning, load carried, and driving style.

Charging the battery of your Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle using a Level 1 or Level 2 AC charger is highly recommended to maximize efficiency and power. Without charging, fully electric driving will be limited, and power reserves for the eBoost function will be much lower. For optimized efficiency, BMW recommends regular charging overnight. BMW Plug-in Hybrids can also charge while driving. Regenerative braking allows the vehicle to regain part of its energy. In addition, charging can also take place during the journey with the function known as Battery Control Mode. This mode maintains the charge of the high-voltage battery constantly at the desired level or increases it to the pre-set value, by having the electric motor function as a generator. In this way, for example, it is possible to use Battery Control Mode during a drive on the highway to protect or even increase the electric power reserves so that a subsequent urban route can be covered with electric driving and without any local emissions. Even if you don't have time to catch a charge, your BMW will still get you where you need to go. When the battery is fully discharged, the BMW TwinPower Turbo engine automatically takes over.