The concept car ActiveHybrid 5 has under its hood a sophisticated hybrid setup that involves a 6-cylinder gasoline direct injected and twin turbocharged engine paired with a lithium ion battery dependent electric motor.

The electric motor of this green car registers 54 horsepower and is linked to the gasoline engine via a special clutch. When the driver hits the brakes or when the car is coasting, the electric motor will be activated as a generator to charge the batteries.

The hybrid system is similar to the setup of the ActiveHybrid 7 where the electric motor is paired with a V8. According to BMW designers, the technology allows one to save about 10% of fuel and it also permits all-electric driving in the city streets. It also makes use of a stop-start technology to save more fuel. Weather control is also controlled by the battery and does not depend on the engine.

BWM also linked the navigation system with the software that controls the consumption of energy of the motor, battery, and the engine. The car may for example depend on the battery more when cruising down a downhill route and the system is designed to recharged it as it passes on that section of the road.

BMW has not released any figures about fuel economy or power outputs but expect for updates as soon as we hear about them.

The reason for the hold up?  Finding someone to supply the battery to get the BMW Megacity Electric Car running; that is what Bosch and Samsung SDI are for though, they are going to be the battery supplier for the BMW Megacity Electric Car.  Samsung, which was already in the market to switch gears form cell phones, was certainly in the lead for making a battery for the BMW Megacity Electric Car.

However, Bosch has come up with quite a few things and they are certainly going to make a hell of a lot of money on the BMW Megacity Electric Car – for it is going to rock!

The BMW Sauber F1 Team developed a technology that combines an electric motor and generator, essential power electronics, and an energy storage device. The F1.09’s engine cover and sidepods add approximately 30 kg (66 lbs) to the car’s weight but are necessary to provide a reasonable space for the hybrid car mechanism. The team spent months in the production of the first prototype which was tested in March 2008.

Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW’s Development Director, explained that BMW Sauber F1.09’s KERS module is a high power density version the brake energy regeneration technology. It is also physically comparable to the ActiveHybrid system that standard production BMW vehicles use.

The analysis of test drive provided several recommendations for the betterment of the electric KERS system such as the change in the control unit’s design to eliminate coupling effects, extensive monitoring capacity for high frequency situations and a several measures to eliminate any electric possibilities. The team successfully went over the safety check along with the recommended measures that are available to the FIA and other F1 teams.