[Fly2nite]

I’m reading today that unlike many other plug-in hybrids, the XM sold in the US does not get any charge from the engine. Only through regen braking and plugging in. So, what happens after battery depletion? Do you just lose 200 hp?

I find that with our volvo hybrid, we are typically running on gas because we aren’t good at plugging it in. Would my experience with the XM be a diminished horsepower experience most of the time if this were the case?

[XM Label]

Originally Posted by Fly2nite

I’m reading today that unlike many other plug-in hybrids, the XM sold in the US does not get any charge from the engine. Only through regen braking and plugging in. So, what happens after battery depletion? Do you just lose 200 hp?

I find that with our volvo hybrid, we are typically running on gas because we aren’t good at plugging it in. Would my experience with the XM be a diminished horsepower experience most of the time if this were the case?

There is reserve in the battery even when it goes to zero so that you don’t lose performance and 200HP.

[DocWeatherington]

My understanding is the same the battery will never go to a true zero and will produce power...it just won't give you EV range.

Rumors are the V8 has the ability to charge the battery but its not functional in the US.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/03/17/b...harge-battery/

Per the article...


Update: This particular use case only applies to the U.S. market. We spoke to the the product manager about this issue in the review of the BMW XM. Essentially, the U.S. market has different regulations around the state of charge vs. Germany, for example. In Germany, you can actually use the V8 engine to regen 100% of the battery pack.

[TXSchnee]

That seems like an excuse. My 2020 Cayenne E Hybrid, and ‘24 Cayenne S E Hybrid both have E Charge settings, where the engine charges the HV battery. Seems like BMW wanted to save some money on EPA testing and not include that ability in the US.

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by TXSchnee

That seems like an excuse. My 2020 Cayenne E Hybrid, and ‘24 Cayenne S E Hybrid both have E Charge settings, where the engine charges the HV battery. Seems like BMW wanted to save some money on EPA testing and not include that ability in the US.

Probably or found it kills MPGs. However, I note Porsche has VW group and corporate powertains split across many brands and models.. so the cost can be split upon units sold.

This powertain is only in the XM and sales likely wouldn't justify the costs.

[XM Label]

Originally Posted by DocWeatherington

Probably or found it kills MPGs. However, I note Porsche has VW group and corporate powertains split across many brands and models.. so the cost can be split upon units sold.

This powertain is only in the XM and sales likely wouldn't justify the costs.

And the new M5/M5 touring!

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by XM Label

And the new M5/M5 touring!

True.. but these are all version 2.0 of this powertain and electronics and I'm thinking the powertrain in the M5 is going quite a bit better than that in the XM.

[Crazy1323]

Essentially all permanent magnet motors are also generators. If a hybrid has regen braking then the gas engine be used to charge the battery to some extent. This is a software issue.

My wife has a Lexus PHEV and her car can use the gas engine to maintain the battery level or even charge the battery all the way to 100%.

In the US when a vehicle is tested for its gas MPG’s that is done using a specific test. Part of that test involves fully depleting the battery and testing the vehicle in what is known as “charge sustaining mode”. If the vehicle were programmed to use the gas engine to recharge the battery, that would hurt the MPG for this test. Since the XM is only rated at 14 MPG, if the engine recharged the battery it would be even worse, hurting BMW’s CAFE numbers.

Originally Posted by DocWeatherington

My understanding is the same the battery will never go to a true zero and will produce power...it just won't give you EV range.

Rumors are the V8 has the ability to charge the battery but its not functional in the US.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/03/17/b...harge-battery/

Per the article...


Update: This particular use case only applies to the U.S. market. We spoke to the the product manager about this issue in the review of the BMW XM. Essentially, the U.S. market has different regulations around the state of charge vs. Germany, for example. In Germany, you can actually use the V8 engine to regen 100% of the battery pack.

[jwmFcreek]

My Xm Label … first highway trip some 500 miles … didn’t seem to really charge the battery …. But driving around town my battery always appears to sit between 97 to 98 percent battery being charged for months driving maybe 5 miles a day.

[r33_RGSport]

It because the Hybrid system on XM and upcoming M5 is mainly for performance, not for gas savings.
I believe Porsche is going to the same route.