"Our LifeDrive architecture is helping us to open a new chapter in automotive lightweight design," he says. "Indeed, this concept allows us to practically offset the extra 250-350 kg of weight typically found in electrically powered vehicles.”

The LifeDrive concept consists of two horizontally separated, independent modules. The Drive module – the aluminium chassis – forms the solid foundation of the vehicle and integrates the battery, drive system and structural and basic crash functions into a single construction. The Life module consists primarily of a high strength, lightweight passenger cell made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP).

BMW reports that this new vehicle architecture opens the door to new production processes which are both simpler and more flexible, and use less energy.

BMW is developing the powertrain for the Megacity Vehicle in-house – that includes the electric motor, the power electronics and the battery system.

With the LifeDrive concept, BMW engineers are developing the car’s architecture from scratch and adapting it to the demands of future mobility. The goal: to offset the additional weight of an electric vehicle – typically 250-350 kg. To this end, BMW Group is focusing on carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP).