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Writer's pictureCOCKPIT

BMW 1602e: The first electric car from the Bavarian brand



BMW opens the marathon of the Munich Olympic Games by presenting the BMW 1602e concept to the world, an electric coupé prefiguring the current BMW i3 40 years in advance.



Actually designed in 1969, the 1602 Electric only appeared in public during the Munich Olympics, as an accompanying vehicle for the Marathon. Two prototypes were built from the BMW 02 Series. Instead of the gearbox there is a shunt DC electric motor developed by Bosch with a maximum power of 32 kW, the driving force of which is transmitted to the rear axle by gears and a transmission shaft. A centrifugal fan controlled by a thermostat, with a power of 140 W, ensures the cooling of the motor.


The 85 kg electric motor is powered by twelve traditional Varta brand lead batteries, 12 V each, placed on a pallet in the engine compartment. The entire battery weighs 350 kg, but it is a single block that can be replaced with a recharged pack. The BMW 1602 Electric sprints from 0 to 50 km/h in 8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 100 km/h. Its autonomy in urban traffic amounts to nearly 30 km, and goes up to 60 km at a constant speed of 50 km/h.

It had brake regeneration to be able to drive further; “A regenerative brake is an energy harvesting mechanism that slows down a vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy into a form that can be used immediately or stored until needed. This contrasts with conventional braking systems, where excess kinetic energy is converted into unwanted heat and wasted through friction in the brakes. In addition to improving overall vehicle efficiency, regeneration can significantly extend the life of the brake system because its parts don't wear out as quickly. The most common form of regenerative braking involves an electric motor as an electric generator. ''



Evolution of electric BMWs


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