BMW Shows Off Wireless Charging Pad For 530e IPerformance Plug-In
BMW’s sporty 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid sedan will soon be offered with an available inductive charging plate that will enable the car to receive a charge wirelessly.
The charging plate, which will be available from 2018 onward, can charge the 530e iPerformance’s 9.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack at a rate of about 3.2 kilowatts per hour. That means it will be able to charge it from flat to full in under four hours. The EPA has yet to rate the electric mileage of the sedan, however BMW claims a full charge can power the car for 28 miles.
The charging plate works by using a primary coil at its base and a secondary coil located within the nose of the car. In layman’s terms, the coils generate an alternating magnetic field to produce a charge.
The plate still needs to be plugged into a wall for it to work, but BMW says it’s safe for outdoor use if you don’t have a garage or want to take it with you on a trip.
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Introduced late last year, the 530e iPerformance offers up all electric driving but retains the sporting character BMW is known for. It features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is paired with a single electric motor integrated with the eight-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain produces 248 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 0-62 mph sprint of 6.2 seconds and top speed of 142 mph.
The BMW 530e iPerformance is priced from $51,400 in the United States. BMW has yet to provide an individual price for the conductive charging pad.
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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