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BMW's Regenerative Braking System Coming to 3-Series
BMW, already stating that they aren't interested in making gas/electric hybrid vehicles, will implement BMW's regenerative braking system on their best-selling 3-Series in October.

While the standard hybrid recaptures energy normally wasted in braking with the electric motor, BMW's system uses the energy to help power the alternator in energy production. Both the 5-Series and the 1-Series have already used this type of system, which proves good results.

The system is capable of coupling and decoupling the alternator from the engine, which has the dual benefits of slowing down the vehicle when engaged and freeing up more engine power for the wheels when disconnected. Read Article
BMW's Regenerative Braking System Coming to 3-Series



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TheSailorTheSailor - 4/18/2007 9:38:18 AMView My AgentSpace
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I think this is a very clever way of utilizing "free" energy... Engineers really have to think outside the box to extract more power from each liter of fuel and I think BMW engineers are really doing their best to do that, both with this system and systems like the electric water pump which is only running when it is necessary.

And yes, I know both Honda and Toyota is already using Regenerative braking in their hybrids, but the clever thing here is that it doesn't add any weight to the car... Hybrids still have to carry a lot of excess bagage!

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Ironman273Ironman273 - 4/18/2007 1:44:34 PM
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I don't understand the benefit here. Isn't the alternator enough to keep the battery charged? Why would the alternator need more power? "Both the 5-Series and the 1-Series have already used this type of system, which proves good results." What good results? A battery with a higher charge?

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TheSailorTheSailor - 4/18/2007 2:20:18 PMView My AgentSpace
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The trick is that everything which is driven by the engine will use some of the power produced. The alternator on a regular car is constantly spinning, charging the battery, meaning that it is constantly using some of the engines power, even when the battery is fully charged. What BMW have done here is make a system that allows the alternator to be disengaged when the battery doesn't need charging, but when you brake, the alternator engages, charging the battery using the energy of the engine while it isn't used for turning the wheels. Then at night when you drive around with the AC at full blast and the high beams on and you need a lot of power, the alternator is engaged constantly. It will also engage if the car detects low charge on the battery.

So actually, it is not that the alternator isn't powerful enough, but exactly the opposite, it is actually too powerful, so to save juice, it disengages when it isn't needed or when you need alot of power to drive (when you floor the accelerator).


Ironman273Ironman273 - 4/18/2007 4:41:20 PM
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Well, I'd like to see how much power exactly an alternator "robs" from the engine. It would seem to me it would be a pretty small amount, but I could be wrong.


vdivvdiv - 4/18/2007 5:08:11 PM
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The article is mistaken, the system "modifies" the alternator, not helping to power it. The alternator charges the battery and powers the electrical systems of the car. This system does so by coupling and decoupling it from the engine/drivetrain when it is most efficient (i.e during braking when energy must be dissipated).

The alternator can in fact rob quite a bit of power when the battery needs charging immediately after starting the engine or after a prolonged use of the accessories with the engine off.


TheSailorTheSailor - 4/18/2007 6:18:50 PMView My AgentSpace
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Well, it is pretty straight forward actually... A 65 A alternator running at 12 V will deliver a power of P=U*I, Which means that when a 65 Amp alternator is loaded to full capacity, it produces 780 W. That is pretty close to 1 hp. And the only place where this energy can come from is the engine. Then you also have to remember that there is some loss in the alternator (meaning that it takes up even more power in order to provide the 65 A), and the alternators optimum working speed might not be the same as the one at which the engine produces most power... So you might loose 1 hp at 1500 rpm at which a 200 hp engine might only produce 50-60 hp... That is a significant loss! Almost 2%... So instead of using the engines power when it is most needed, the system disengages the alternator and let it "freewheel" almost eliminating power loss while the engine is under high load, but as soon as you press the brake, the alternator reengages and use the power which would elseway have been lost during decelleration.
BMW themselves claim that the system can save as much as three percent fuel by itself, whether that is true I do not know, but that it does have some effect should be beyond any doubt.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 4/19/2007 12:57:44 AM
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BMW is very consistent in their product...always striving to create vehicles that place performance at the top of the list.

yet another innovative technology that maximizes power for the driver.

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