As part of its push to ready the next-generation of cars, BMW has begun testing its iNext SUV in the hirsute & testing conditions of Arjeplog, the small Swedish town that has become something of a carmaker’s playground. That’s down to the ridiculous temperatures that Arjeplog experiences, and in the case of the iNext, it’s imperative that the car can perform there.
Low temperatures can wreak havoc on electrical drivetrains – it truly stretches out the capabilities of the battery, the battery cooling system, the electric motor, and the energy-management system. BMW’s engineers are analysing just how the extreme sub-zero temperatures will affect the energy storage system, if it affects the recharge capabilities, and how the additional demand of the climate control & other ancillaries affects day-to-day usability.
Additionally, BMW will be looking at how the all-wheel drive system, stability control, and other driveline systems function in the low-friction low-temperature environment, with the testing routes in Arjeplog consisting of snow-covered roads & ice-covered lakes. Under these same circumstances, the steering & braking systems are to be refined further, with the latter adapted to maintain an efficient balance between deceleration & energy recuperation.
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