Before, during and after your journey, there are a number of ways of improving the efficiency of your BMW vehicle. Some of these enhancements can be attributed to BMW Efficient Dynamics, which has introduced several technical innovations and solutions in recent years. However, in addition to this, there are efficient driving styles that can make a huge difference. Smarter driving behaviour can lead to fuel savings, depending on the route and traffic situation. This applies to diesel and petrol models, as well as electric and plug-in hybrid models.
Additional weight increases fuel consumption, you should therefore remove unnecessary load from the vehicle. Furthermore, add-on parts such as roofboxes or bicycle carriers should be removed, as they adversely affect the aerodynamics and with this, increase consumption.
A tyre pressure below the recommended value increases wear on tyres and fuel consumption. In a partially loaded vehicle, ECO filling pressure* can be used to achieve the lowest possible fuel consumption.
*This function is currently only available within the European Union and in the United Kingdom.
Conditioning prior to departure allows you to set a pleasant temperature inside your electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. This can increase the electric range as the necessary energy demand is saved during the trip.
Innovative features from BMW EfficientDynamics assist you to reduce fuel consumption during your journey. From ECO PRO mode, via the Route-Ahead Assistant and the coasting function, through to the driving style analysis, your BMW is equipped with many clever functions that help you to adopt an efficient driving style.
ECO PRO mode.
ECO PRO enables drivers to reduce fuel consumption by encouraging a more sedate driving style. This is achieved by altering the parameters of the accelerator pedal and automatic transmission. In ECO PRO mode, energy-consuming loads such as the air conditioning system or seat heating for the passengers are also reduced. The extra range earned using ECO PRO mode is displayed to drivers.
Route-Ahead Assistant.
The Route-Ahead Assistant is a function of the ECO PRO mode that uses the navigation system to detect speed limits, entrances to towns, corners, roundabouts, junctions and motorway exits on the route. With this, it gives anticipatory tips on reducing speed in good time in order to avoid inefficient braking. Advance tips appear in the form of a blue “Release accelerator pedal” symbol in the instrument cluster for the specific situation.
48-volt mild hybrid technology.
On models where the technology is fitted, the 48-volt mild hybrid technology makes it possible to retrieve energy when the vehicle reduces speed, which it then uses to boost the combustion engine during acceleration. As a result, consumption and emissions decrease. This technology also makes the Automatic Start/Stop function faster and more comfortable. During deceleration phases (braking and coasting), the engine switches off ready for operation at 9mph, allowing fuel and emission-free taxiing.
Engine-off coasting.
Also available in vehicles with 48-volt mild hybrid technology is Engine-off coasting. Enjoy consumption-free and emission-free motion of the vehicle with maximum retention of kinetic energy. When the foot leaves the accelerator pedal, the function switches between coasting and recuperation adaptively on the basis of data from the surroundings.
For vehicles without 48-volt mild hybrid technology, coasting can be experienced in the COMFORT driving mode and in the ECO PRO driving mode with extended availability.
Driving style analysis.
The driving style analysis function provides tips based on the specific situation to create a more efficient driving style and save fuel. During the process, driving style is analysed and evaluated in various categories. The evaluation and accompanying tips are shown in the Control Display in the ECO PRO driving mode.
Energy-flow gauge.
The energy-flow gauge in the Control Display clearly visualises the BMW EfficientDynamics technologies such as coasting, recuperation and the intelligent Automatic Start/Stop function.
Your BMW plug-in hybrid helps you to adopt an efficient driving style thanks to the ECO PRO functions. Supplementing these are hybrid-specific functions such as the forward-looking hybrid drive or the adaptive recuperation.
With route guidance activated in the navigation system, the anticipatory hybrid drive distributes the available electrical energy across your selected journey. If the high-voltage battery is sufficiently charged, additional parts of the route will be selected for electric driving. The combustion engine is automatically switched on or off according to the section of the route, which supports an efficient driving system and emission-free driving in built-up areas.
In newer BMW vehicles with hybrid drive (e.g. BMW X5 xDrive45e) adaptive recuperation comes offers a light-footed and efficient style of driving and supports forward-looking motoring in the HYBRID ECO PRO mode.
With the aid of an intelligent control system that adapts to the specific situation, the vehicle decides autonomously between coasting and recuperation when the driver’s foot leaves the accelerator pedal. The system adjusts the strength of deceleration ideally to the traffic situation. As a result, use of the brake pedal can be reduced and the ride comfort increased.
BMW electric vehicles allow you to reduce power consumption during the ride and thus increase efficiency and, with this, the range. The consumption-optimised ECO PRO driving mode plays an important role in this; by adopting an efficient driving style, it can extend the electric range. Another efficiency-enhancing function is the Route-Ahead Assistant. In combination with the navigation system, it gives tips on reducing speed in good time in order to avoid inefficient braking. And finally, there is the Driving style analysis. It helps you by providing tips during the journey for developing a more efficient driving style.
In the BMW iX3, you can set the recuperation phases manually in order to increase the deceleration characteristics. Or, instead, the iX3 can intelligently decide this on the basis of the traffic situation ahead.
Another key new feature in the BMW iX3 is the option of selecting driving levels. The driver can choose between driving level D (Drive) and the new driving level B (Brake). With driving level D selected, the characteristics experienced are those expected of a combustion engine and automatic transmission, whereas driving level B activates the “one-pedal feeling” with a permanently high recuperation level already familiar from the BMW i3.
Whether you drive a combustion engine or a plug-in hybrid, you can find out how economically you have driven at the end of the trip. To obtain an overview on the efficiency of your journey in the menu of the Control Display via Car / Trip info / Trip data.
Acting as an indicator of efficient driving in vehicles with a petrol or diesel engine is the display of the distance covered in coasting and the time spent with the motor switched off by the Automatic Start/Stop function. In addition, the sections of the trip in ECO PRO mode appear highlighted in blue. Among the features displayed in BMW plug-in hybrid models are the miles travelled in purely electric mode.
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