The charging cable is often the least-used accessory for plug-in hybrids. BMW wants and has to change that.
The actual environmental impact of plug-in hybrids suffers greatly from the lack of charging discipline of their drivers. BMW now wants to playfully improve this. And at the same time anticipate possible driving bans in inner cities.
Starting with 2020, all plug-in hybrid models of the brand will be equipped with the so-called "eDrive Zone" function. This software package controls the drive in such a way that it is driven exclusively electrically in city centers. For this purpose, for example, electricity can be refueled in good time, electricity can be saved on overland trips, or the internal combustion engine can be used off-site to charge the battery.
The restriction to the electric drive in the city should help on the one hand to improve the air quality there, but on the other hand to ensure that the hybrid cars are excluded from theoretical future city driving restrictions for internal combustion engines. Since there are currently no such regulations in Germany, the software first uses the existing environmental zones as a reference area. Corresponding data are stored in the navigation system.
However, in order for this to work meaningfully with emission-free city driving, it is necessary to regularly recharge the battery at the socket. Otherwise, the electricity for the city would have to be generated by the internal combustion engine before passing the zone boundary - a little efficient matter. So far, plug-in hybrid drivers - usually company car users - but as rather listless, when it comes to the power tanks. Often they use the tax advantage of the cars, but not their electric motor.
The BMW software wants to change this in the future with a point system: The so-called "BMW points" are available, among other things, for regular charging, the morning start with full battery or electric driving in environmental zones. Those who earn enough points can redeem them for various BMW services, such as car-sharing trips, parking fees or additional software for the infotainment system.
While the eDrive Zone feature will be standard on all 2020 plug-in hybrid models, the point software must be deliberately downloaded from the automaker's online store.