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Comment by kylec | Hacker News Reader

The article specifically calls out that the 3 series will become a plug-in hybrid, so there will still be a gas engine directly powering the wheels, not just generating electricity.

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The term "hybrid" does not indicate that a gas engine powers the wheels directly. A series hybrid can have a gasoline or diesel motor that exists merely to charge the batteries, as in the i3 Range Extender version.

The article specifically mentions the 3 series becoming a hybrid (not what type; the ActiveHybrid 3 and ActiveHybrid5 already exist for limited sale), but it also speculates:

"The new range of cars could be driven by separate electric motors powering the front and rear wheels, with a small gasoline engine to generate electricity to extend the range of the batteries"

So, basically, we don't know what their precise plans are, but the article does not indicate that the 3er will have a gas engine powering the wheels.

Whatever their precise plans are, I hope this finally means we can stop paying attention to Hyperarrogant Elon. :)

What a strange sentiment. Competition in this field will be excellent for consumers.

If you look at BMW's current marketing names for the i3 and the i8, it describes the i3, both with and without the REx, as "electric", whereas the i8 is a "plug-in hybrid", and does have a hybrid powertrain. Obviously it can be argued that the i3 with the REx is a hybrid, but it's clear to me that BMW intends to build an i8-like 3 series.

There will be a gas engine, but not powering the wheel, they're saying the 3 Series will be converted to an "electric drivetrain": the ICE only does electricity generation, transmission is electrical and only electric engines power the wheels (aka diesel-electric or "series" hybrid)

So pretty much like the current i3 with the "Range Extender" option or the i8?

Same principle, though in the RE i3 the ICE isn't intended to run most of the time, so the i8 is a better point of comparison: you can use it all-electric for short hops but most of the expected usage is with the ICE running and the battery serving as buffer & booster.

Could you clarify / source / double-check that?

If you've got an electric drivetrain, adding a mechanical drivetrain: gearbox, driveshaft, differential, and powered axles, is a lot of additional weight. Powering a generator and transmitting power via electricity to the electric motors you've already got in the wheels makes a lot more sense.

>> BMW is now intends to convert all its vehicles to some configuration of plug-in hybrid.

Yep, it's 'just' a "plug-in hybrid". Good for low emissions and high mileage ... on paper.

I'm perfectly happy with my Outlander PHEV as it reduced my real life fuel use to somewhere around 15%.

It has a larger battery than most plugins, and my daily commute is 98% electric.

http://www.voltstats.net/

Out of ~1300 Volts tracked, 70% of the miles traveled were EV only. Keep your snark out of facts.

Those stats are likely biased towards having a larger percentage of EV only miles.

Regardless, plug-in hybrids do reduce greenhouse gas emissions and gasoline used. They were a nice stop-gap until battery tech has caught up, and now that it has, you'll see people move on to fully electric vehicles.

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