On February 27, a BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid with an upgraded range rolled off the production line. This was the historical moment when BMW Brilliance’s 3 millionth domestically produced BMW rolled off the production line. At the same time, BMW Brilliance also announced that this model was officially launched in China.

Listed in China.

What is even more significant is that the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the new 5 Series plug-in hybrid remains unchanged, with the two models priced at 499,900 yuan and 536,900 yuan respectively.

Based on the strength of the original product, the mileage upgrade version launched this time has only increased the weight of the new car battery pack by 6.5 kilograms. Almost all of the increased weight comes from the new safety materials and safety structures in the battery pack to further optimize the safety performance of the battery.

.

It is worth mentioning that under the NEDC test standard, the new car consumes only 16 kilowatt hours in pure electric mode for 100 kilometers.

This battery pack provides consumers with a pure electric cruising range of up to 95 kilometers, a 42% increase compared to previous products, and fuel consumption is further reduced to 1.5L/100 kilometers.

Specific to technology, the 5 Series plug-in hybrid range upgrade launched this time is equipped with the latest eDrive technology.

The high-voltage battery uses 811 nickel-cobalt-manganese ternary lithium-ion high-performance cells, which increases the total electric energy capacity by 37% to 17.7 kilowatt hours without changing the shape, volume and number of cells of the high-voltage power battery pack.

In 2019, global sales of new energy vehicles reached 2.21 million units, a year-on-year increase of 10%.

Among them, 1.63 million pure electric vehicles were sold, accounting for 73.7%.

BMW's 530e/le and i3 models ranked 6th and 10th in the global new energy model sales list, with 51,083 units and 41,837 units sold respectively.

In China, the BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid version sold 26,000 units in 2019, making it the top-selling plug-in hybrid model among luxury brands last year.

At the same time, the annual sales volume of the BMW brand in the new energy field has reached 128,000 units, ranking fifth in the global car company rankings.

This achievement also far surpasses Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which have launched pure electric platforms, ranking first among European luxury brands.

In terms of new energy vehicle sales, BMW expects to increase the proportion of its electrified vehicle sales in total sales from 8.6% in 2019 to 25% in 2021, and will increase the proportion in 2025 and 2030 respectively.

to 30% and 50%.

It can be seen that BMW has tasted enough sweetness in plug-in hybrid.

However, it is obvious that BMW is opposed to new energy sources!

Fu Lexi, director of BMW R&D Group, once said in an interview: "No consumers have real demand for electric vehicles, not one. It is the regulatory agencies that have requirements for pure electric vehicles." In fact, it should be said that BMW only has pure electric new energy sources.

I am opposed to it, but for plug-in hybrids, I support it with both hands and vote with both feet.

The situation is quite delicate: Does a company focus on the future or on reality?

BMW gave a clear answer with its own behavior and sales.

BMW obviously cares more about plug-in hybrids than pure electrics.

Although plug-in hybrid is just a "oil-to-electricity" technology that manufacturers have played badly with, it is not a new model produced on a new platform.

However, perhaps it is precisely because of this that BMW is more willing to do plug-in hybrids: it does not have to spend a lot of money to build a pure electric platform, and pure electric cars are actually far less popular than plug-in hybrids and are more capable.

Alleviate people's range anxiety.

In fact, plug-in hybrid technology is not as simple as it sounds, nor is it as easy as "changing oil to electricity".

The so-called plug-in hybrid technology is actually based on the traditional engine and gearbox, plus motor battery pack and electronic control technology. Because of the previous fuel vehicle, it is quite troublesome to change, and the subsequent use experience may not be

Just fine.

As we all know, if an article is changed over and over again, it will be completely different. It is better to rewrite another article. The same is true for plug-in hybrids.

However, BMW's plug-in hybrid technology is very good, "without sacrificing driving pleasure." Sales volume is the most direct reflection, and consumers' votes with their feet can best illustrate the problem.

However, why did Toyota and Honda, the most powerful hybrid brands, not achieve such results with their luxury brands, while BMW, which has always been disapproving of new energy, did so?

According to foreign media reports: BMW’s plug-in hybrid was sued by a company called Paice in the United States.

Paice Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Oswald angrily said in a statement: "Paice shared the details of our hybrid technology with BMW in good faith, but BMW did not try to negotiate to license the technology from here.

Instead, they took it directly and used it for their own benefit. "The case dates back to 2005, when BMW formed a technical alliance with General Motors and DaimlerChrysler.

Paice claims that at the time, the company presented its innovation to alliance members, including BMW, and provided its executives and engineers with in-depth details about the technology, including how to maximize performance without sacrificing driving performance.

Fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

In fact, BMW is not the only automaker sued by Paice.