[six]

Bit of a hypothetical question, but also not as this has happened to me…

So the scenario is, it’s winter and cold, travelling A>B and get caught in a road closure. The 50e has only say 5 miles of electric range but a full tank of fuel.

Sat stopped in the jam I presume all heating and ventilation will be supplied by the battery with the ICE off, per usual, but what happens when the battery depletes to ‘X’ point? I guess it fires up the ICE and you can sit there for as long as the fuel in the tank holds up?

Will the ICE charge the battery and at some point cut off so again the H&V will be depleting the battery charge until the cycle starts over or will the ICE just remain running continuously?

I know this has been asked before but that’s with 45e. I believe there is talk about the 50e being unable to dump charge back into the battery using the ICE as a generator so I now wonder how it would behave in my scenario, in effect sat for many hours needing to keep the cabin warm.

I’m sure BMW have this covered in their logic, but as ever it’s somewhat obscured from us end users

[mobsync]

Damn good question. Subscribed.

[Bmwx5z]

1. one could hold battery at x%, that would force ICE on
2. Not sure how it'll work if battery is actually empty. Id assume BMW has some logic programmed in to avoid not having HVAC.
3. Standing still w ICE running... may not be good idea due to CO poisoning? despite being outside, due to being standstill and buildup in the cabin. Wasnt there a story of people dying in their cars in a similar scenario?

[nZtiZia]

since the 50e is built off the 45e:
https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...64&postcount=8

TL;DR, i doubt there's anything to worry about as long as you have fuel. during my test on my 45e, Battery Control wasn't used, so the concern with the 50e's Battery Hold-only function needn't be a concern. as with driving, the ICE will likely cycle on and off to maintain the minimum HV battery level needed to keep all electronics powered.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by Bmwx5z

1. one could hold battery at x%, that would force ICE on
2. Not sure how it'll work if battery is actually empty. Id assume BMW has some logic programmed in to avoid not having HVAC.
3. Standing still w ICE running... may not be good idea due to CO poisoning? despite being outside, due to being standstill and buildup in the cabin. Wasnt there a story of people dying in their cars in a similar scenario?

This is more like if you do it in your garage or small close space la. Open space, you can do it all day long. Not that it is good for the environment, but you wont die from CO.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

since the 50e is built off the 45e:
https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...64&postcount=8

TL;DR, i doubt there's anything to worry about as long as you have fuel. during my test on my 45e, Battery Control wasn't used, so the concern with the 50e's Battery Hold-only function needn't be a concern. as with driving, the ICE will likely cycle on and off to maintain the minimum battery level to keep all electronics powered.

I had an actual situation of this wiuth 45e. Got stuck in snow storm on I-80 this past winter for about 10 hours. HVB eventually ran dry from lights, heated seat, HVAC. ICE will cycle on once in a while to charge HVB, then off. Duty cycle is on the low side tho, meaning most of the time ICE is off.

[Alan l.]

My co-worker had this happen in his X3M last winter. Stuck on the highway for over 6 hours in a blizzard. Complete standstill. He had to keep his engine running the whole time to keep warm. Lucky he had a full tank of gas and snow tires.

[jad03060]

The EV motor makes for a good alternator and is what's used to create the regenerative braking power. All that needs to happen (automatically) is for the appropriate clutches to engage, and the EV motor becomes an alternator that can provide power as long as the engine has fuel for the ICE. BUt, yes, the HVAC is electrical, but as long as you have fuel, you can make all you need.

[Flying Ace]

If you got gas, you won't have a problem.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

I had an actual situation of this wiuth 45e. Got stuck in snow storm on I-80 this past winter for about 10 hours. HVB eventually ran dry from lights, heated seat, HVAC. ICE will cycle on once in a while to charge HVB, then off. Duty cycle is on the low side tho, meaning most of the time ICE is off.

How many hours stuck? After this winter and hearing stories of shutdowns, I will never try to beat out a snowstorm in the sierras

[eelnoraa]

We spend total of 12 hours between Reno and Sac. It was supposed be the day before the storm, we tried to come home before storm. Storm always came early. We barely made it pass summit before road closure. We also needed to put chains on at check points. By the time I took chains off, it was completely dark, maybe 6pm, only made it Emigrant gap area. If we were delayed by another hour in Reno, we will be stuck at I-80 for the night, and had to stay at the other side of sierra for a few more days.

45e did ok driving in snow storm. Heater is weak tho. We were never really too warm. Laser headlight is ok. Not worth the hype of laser for sure, not better than Subaru Forester headlight, which my parents were driving in the same trip. Maybe laser never engage ?? I couldn’t tell.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

…
45e did ok driving in snow storm. Heater is weak tho. We were never really too warm. Laser headlight is ok. Not worth the hype of laser for sure, not better than Subaru Forester headlight, which my parents were driving in the same trip. Maybe laser never engage ?? I couldn’t tell.

lasers engage while on high beams and vehicle is traveling >38mph

[jad03060]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

lasers engage while on high beams and vehicle is traveling >38mph

...and, when the ambient light conditions are dark enough (i.e., they won't come on in a well-lit city environment, regardless of your speed).

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by jad03060

...and, when the ambient light conditions are dark enough (i.e., they won't come on in a well-lit city environment, regardless of your speed).

...and, that's why i said high beams have to be on. whatever the conditions may be, if high beams aren’t on = no lasers

[biterror]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

45e did ok driving in snow storm. Heater is weak tho. We were never really too warm.

I have no complaints about the heater at -30 C (-22 F). How cold was it outside?

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by biterror

I have no complaints about the heater at -30 C (-22 F). How cold was it outside?

Maybe -5C. CA isn’t that cold. Maybe I need to get my checked. One observation tho, I do think heater is warmer if ICE is running. Maybe all in my head, because supposed 45e use electric heating elements and ICE doesn’t play a role in heating. Unless this understanding is incorrect

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

...of course. that's why i said high beams have to be on. in a well-lit city environment, high beams won't turn on and thus, no lasers

I have video on some is the I-80 section. Let me find it and share. It was very dark for sure. After all we are in the middle of no where with sun down. The speed park is good point. We had chain, so unlikely doing more than 35mph for the i-80. But in general, I don’t found laser to make tangible difference in my 11month ownership. I kind of think in this length of ownership, it must have been engaged somewhere somehow.

In my car, it was part of exe pack. If not for the better illumination, I still like the icon look, and the 4 head light look as opposed to 2 headlights with 2 dummy look. Not regretting, just went to share experience