These 3 stumbling blocks stand in the way of the arrival of the electric BMW M3 - AutoReview.nl

The electric BMW M3 must become a sports car that pushes the boundaries. The Germans are reportedly aiming for at least one megawatt (1000 kW) of power. If this is successful, the M3 will get 1360 hp or more. This is achieved by equipping the M3 EV with not one, not two, but four electric motors.

But that's easier said than done. At BMW M they are waiting for the New class, BMW's new EV platform that supports four electric motors and will be released in 2025. Once that hurdle is cleared, it will take a few more years to perfect the electric M3.

Three obstacles for BMW M3 EV

Frank van Meel, the CEO of BMW M, spoke with Arstechnica about the electric future of the M division. He explains what they encounter:

1. Making powerful electric motors small

Van Meel: “Large electric motors are easy; For example, you can get them from trains, which have extremely strong electric motors. The trick is to make them very light, very powerful and very compact. But they must also have the right cooling so that they can perform optimally.”

2. The battery must be designed for this

The car's battery pack must be designed to supply power to the engines for a long time without overheating. “We have a battery concept in the Neue Klasse that can be equipped with a different chemical composition for more power and with additional cooling for our M applications.”

3. Fine-tune 'Hand of God'

When BMW talks about the Hand of God, they mean the central computer that ensures optimal power distribution. With four electric motors, this is done “extremely precisely” and “in milliseconds”. “And with four e-motors we can also use ABS braking with electric motors instead of brake discs, so that we recover a lot of energy and get up to 30 percent more range on the track."

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When will the electric BMW M3 appear?

According to Frank van Meel, BMW M has been preparing for the arrival of the Neue Klasse for more than two years and to build a high-performance M car on that platform. “That will take a few more years.” In other words, a few years after the arrival of the new platform in 2025, which means 2027 or 2028.