[quirksandfeats]

Any guesses as to why the new x3 30e is rated at only 220kw? It seems a bit low considering that the ICE is rated for 140kw and the electric motor is rated at 135kw.

I’m mainly confused because the X1 30e actually produces more power than the X3 30e, even though its ICE and electric motors are rated at 110kw and 130kw respectively. It seems as if the x1 combined horsepower is directly additive (240kw) whereas the x3 is not. Is it possible that BMW implemented a different power distribution algorithm, or could there be some other limiting factor preventing it from being more powerful than it is rated for (275kw instead of 220)?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by quirksandfeats

Any guesses as to why the new x3 30e is rated at only 220kw? It seems a bit low considering that the ICE is rated for 140kw and the electric motor is rated at 135kw.

I’m mainly confused because the X1 30e actually produces more power than the X3 30e, even though its ICE and electric motors are rated at 110kw and 130kw respectively. It seems as if the x1 combined horsepower is directly additive (240kw) whereas the x3 is not. Is it possible that BMW implemented a different power distribution algorithm, or could there be some other limiting factor preventing it from being more powerful than it is rated for (275kw instead of 220)?

I would guess the X1 numbers are incorrect. The total combined HP is not the sum of ICE and electric since they reach their peaks at different times.

[quirksandfeats]

Let’s assume that you’re right, then why would the x3 be reported as having only 220kw, which is less than an x1 (with the weaker b38 and a weaker electric motor)? At a minimum, they could have at least matched the kilowatt figure. I’m not sure I completely understand the strategy here, since BMW could have simply also reported the x3 to have at least 240kw maximum instantaneous horsepower too, yet they chose not to.

It kind of seems like the x1 is just a better buy at the moment. The only key differences that makes the x3 stand out are the control knob, fancier LED lighting, and maybe slightly newer hardware to make idrive9 feel less laggy.

[TurtleBoy]

You will have ot make your own decision as to what is important and what you are looking for. If HP is the only factor then get the X1 or I guess move up to an X5.

As far as why they made the 30e with less HP, that would be a marketing decision so they likely know what is needed to not only sell but meet any other regulations such as fleet emissions and MPG.

As an aside, there is no such thing as 204kw instantaneous power for them.

[quirksandfeats]

HP isn’t the only factor, as mentioned it seems like the feature gain of the x3 over the x1 phev seems minimal considering that an equivalently configured x1 is 15k euros less money.

As for the 240kw of max instantaneous, I can attest to this being true. That’s exactly what the “boost” feature of the car does, albeit for only 10 seconds. Nonetheless, it’s still capable of hitting that power figure, and I’m surprised that the x3 doesn’t do something similar.

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that in some markets like the US, there is no x1 PHEV and so they can maybe cut some corners and offer a less powerful (and maybe less technically complex?) x3 PHEV, and people wouldn’t know what they’re missing.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by quirksandfeats

As for the 240kw of max instantaneous, I can attest to this being true. That’s exactly what the “boost” feature of the car does, albeit for only 10 seconds. Nonetheless, it’s still capable of hitting that power figure, and I’m surprised that the x3 doesn’t do something similar.

I think you are confusing something. The max HP of the ICE engine is not instantaneous, that doesn't occur until the RPM's are higher.

[quirksandfeats]

By instantaneous I meant that there is one point in the powerband where the power rating is approximately 240kw for at least a brief moment in time, hence for only an instant. From the X3 30e spec sheet, it doesn’t seem like there is an instantaneous moment where the power will be 275kw.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by quirksandfeats

By instantaneous I meant that there is one point in the powerband where the power rating is approximately 240kw for at least a brief moment in time, hence for only an instant. From the X3 30e spec sheet, it doesn’t seem like there is an instantaneous moment where the power will be 275kw.

Okay, it was a language difference.

As far as the X3 30e, it is not rated to have 275kw so that is why you don't see it. As I said before, the HP of a PHEV is not derived by adding the ICE and electric motor HP. I can't tell you why that may be the case with the X1 but that is not how other PHEV's work.

[quirksandfeats]

Right, but I just expected that the x3 would share a similar type of power management to the x1. Btw, the G01 x3 30e behaved exactly the same as the current x1 30e. Power was directly additive where the b48 produced 135kw and the electric motor produced 80kw, with a total output of 215kw. So something else with the tech must have changed quite drastically…

[TurtleBoy]

I can't say how either works but perhaps they are just quoting the numbers as a sum and not how it works. For the ones I have seen the electric motor does not provide max HP at a time when the ICE is providing it. For example, on the X5 50e the electric motor is 194hp and the ICE is 308HP. While the sum of those would be 502hp the 50e has a combined HP of 483. The same for the M760e, ICE is 383hp with the 194hp electric motor but combined is 563hp and not the sum of 577.

[quirksandfeats]

Interesting, those are good points too. In that case it seems like theyre trying to make the x3 more similar to the higher-end PHEVS.

[TurtleBoy]

I just started reading an article on the new M5 and the combined differential from the sum is much larger for it. The ICE produces 577hp and it also uses the 194hp electric motor but the combined hp rating is "only" 717hp.

[quirksandfeats]

Ah okay, so maybe it could be done with the purpose of always being able to deliver the maximum power output on command, whereas models like the G01 30e and the U11 30e only deliver the maximum power output in short bursts?