BMW has announced that it will add a 48V mild-hybrid system to its 7th generation 5-Series with six cylinder engines.
Energy recuperation is enhanced only when the Driving Experience Control switch is set to Sport mode, and the system specifies gathers energy to powers the lights, steering, power windows, ventilation, audio system and seat heating, although stored energy can be fed back to the 48V starter-generator to provide an electric boost effect when the car is accelerating.
Meanwhile, the 530e models gain BMW’s latest generation of eDrive technology, the four-door now boasting a 107bhp electric drive unit. Indeed, when the Driving Control is set to Sport, the XtraBoost feature offers an additional 40bhp for up to 10 seconds. The system uses a 12kWh lithium-ion battery.
The 530e also has Acoustic Protection for Pedestrians, using an exterior speaker to generate noise in electric-only mode at speeds up to 19mph.