BMW has unveiled its next all-electric vehicle – the BMW iX3 at the Auto China 2018 show in Beijing. The IX3 looks just like a “normal” SUV but under the “hood” is a new electric motor that develops 270 horsepower and a 70-kwh lithium-ion battery pack. This gives the iX3 a range of up to 400kms and it can charge at up to 150 kw which means a fast charge station will refill 80 percent of the battery charge in 30 minutes

The German luxury car company went on to say that the all-electric iX3 SUV that will be first produced in Shenyang, China by its BMWBrilliance joint venture. That the production of the iX3 will be in China is a sign of the increasing influence the country wields over the automotive industry and particularly EVs. It’s the largest car market in the world and it’s certainly the biggest for all-electric cars at the moment. BMW expect the iX3 to be released in 2020.

Here are some more details from the press release:-

The BMW Group is pushing ahead with its electrification strategy by extending the reach of its all-electric mobility offering to the company’s core brands. The BMW Concept iX3 – presented for the first time at the Auto China 2018 show in Beijing – offers a look ahead to the expansion of the model line-up in this area.

The first model from the BMW brand to be driven purely by electric power will be a fully-fledged Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). The BMW Concept iX3 underscores the BMW Group’s resolve to further strengthen its leading position in the field of electric mobility.

Among the innovations showcased in the BMW Concept iX3 is the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology. A key benefit of this electric drive technology of the future is the grouping together of the electric motor, transmission and power electronics within a new, separate electric drive component. Plus, the fifth-generation electric drive system also includes new and more powerful batteries. This fresh package of technology brings considerable advances in terms of performance characteristics, operating range, weight, packaging space and flexibility – and will be making its debut in the purely electrically-driven SAV.

The fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology is distinguished by its extremely compact design. The electric motor, transmission and power electronics are now grouped into a single component, making it much easier to integrate them into different vehicle architectures. Plus, their modular construction enables them to be adapted to the performance levels required and the available space. Another notable element is that the electric motor does not need any rare earths, which means the BMW Group is not dependent on their availability.