2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 nav system uses altitude to optimize hybrid efficiency

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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, BMW



Somewhat lost in the fanfare of BMW introducing a hybrid version of its best-selling 3 Series at the Detroit Auto Show was a brief mention of its new navigation technology. The 2012 ActiveHybrid 3 will be the first hybrid to use its nav system to help predict the best time to use and recharge its battery. This will go well beyond currently available navigation technology that plots economical travel routes based on traffic and speed limits, also incorporating altitude, final destination and other real-time data to wring the most out of those electrons.

For example, suppose there's a big hill on your route. Since the 3 Series hybrid "knows" you will be descending, and thus afforded a good opportunity for recharging, it can drain more of the battery on the way up. BMW says it is still working on the system, but it will be included as a standard feature on the ActiveHybrid 3, and will eventually spread to the ActiveHybrid 5 and other hybrid models. While we don't have much in the way of details, the opportunity here seems pretty vast, effectively allowing the car to hypermile for you.Continue reading 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 nav system uses altitude to optimize hybrid efficiency

2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 nav system uses altitude to optimize hybrid efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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